. 


(, 


\ 


REMINISCENCES 


OF 


AMHERST    COLLEGE, 


HISTORICAL,  SCIENTIFIC,  BIOGRAPHICAL  AND 
AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL: 


ALSO, 


OF  OTHER  AND  WIDER  LIFE  EXPERIENCES, 


(WITH  FOUR  PLAHES  AND  A  GEOLOGICAL  MAP.) 


BY    EDWARD    HITCHCOCK. 


NORTHAMPTON,    MASS.: 

PUBLISHED   BY   BRIDGMAN   £    CHILDS. 

1863. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1863, 

By  BRIDGMAN  <te  CIIILDS, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


.1        '       B  O  ST<3  14:  ,   . 
STEREOTTPED  xfiD  PRIKT&6  Iljr  jV'RiGIIT  AND  POTTER, 


At  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Trustees  of  Amherst  College,  held  July  7, 
1862, 

Voted,  That  the  Trustees  receive  with  unaffected  satisfaction  the  informa 
tion  communicated  by  Rev.  Dr.  Hitchcock,  that  he  has  prepared  copious 
Reminiscences  relating  to  the  history  of  this  College,  with  which  he  has  been 
so  prominently  and  honorably  connected  from  the  organization  of  the  Insti 
tution,  and  that  we  shall  welcome  its  publication  with  deep  interest  and 
grateful  pleasure. 

A  true  copy  of  the  Record. 
Attest:  L.  BOLT  WOOD,  Secretary. 


302443 


PREFACE. 


I  have  now  been  connected  with  Amlierst  College  during  the 
whole  period  of  its  legal  existence,  that  is,  ever  since  it  obtained  a 
Charter,  which  was  thirty-eight  years  ago.  It  had,  indeed,  com 
menced  operations  four  years  earlier,  and  graduated  fifty-three ; 
but,  with  perhaps  one  or  two  exceptions,  I  had  become  acquainted 
with  them  all,  as  well  as  with  the  officers.  With  the  1,520  who 
have  since  graduated,  I  have  of  course  been  acquainted,  because  I 
have  given  them  all  courses  of  lectures,  and  heard  their  recitations 
in  the  department  assigned  me.  For  I  have  never  been  prevented, 
in  any  year,  from  giving  my  assigned  course  of  instruction,  either 
by  sickness  or  absence.  I  have  also  known  personally,  and  as 
friends,  every  Instructor  who  has  been  connected  with  the  College. 
I  can  say  the  same  with  respect  to  all  the  Trustees,  and  other  per 
sons  officially  related  to  the  Institution,  and  with  most  of  the  early 
and  later  benevolent  individuals  who  have  founded  and  sustained  it. 
I  have  also  been  cognizant  of,  and  shared  in,  all  the  seasons  of 
prosperity  through  which  it  has  passed,  and  during  the  season  of 
its  deepest  pecuniary  exigency  and  its  subsequent  relief,  I  was  its 
responsible  head.  Professor  Snell  is  the  only  man  living  who 
has  been  here  as  long,  for  he  was  appointed  Tutor  in  1825,  and 
Professor  in  1829. 

In  view  of  these  facts,  the  inquiry  has  often  arisen  in  my  mind, 
whether  it  might  not  be  a  useful  service,  and  perhaps  a  duty,  to  put 
upon  paper  such  reminiscences  of  Amherst  College  as  seem  to  me 
worthy  of  preservation.  For  I  am  sure  that  I  should  be  able  to 
give  many  such,  in  relation  to  some  of  the  interests  of  the  College, 
that  are  unknown  to  others.  Till  recently,  I  have  been  prevented 
from  such  an  effort,  by  several  circumstances.  One  was  the  great 
pressure  of  other  literary  labors.  Another  was  the  knowledge, 
that  the  College  had  in  manuscript,  a  history  of  the  earlier  periods 


VI  PREFACE. 

of  the  Institution,  by  Noah  Webster,  Esq.,  and  that,  within  a  few- 
years,  Dr.  Humphrey  had  been  appointed  by  the  Trustees  to  prepare 
a  regular  history,  and  I  feared  that  for  me  to  bring  out  any  thing 
on  the  same  subject,  unsolicited,  might  look  like  interference,  and 
even  presumption.  But,  having  completed,  in  1860,  a  very  labo 
rious  work,  a  Report  on  the  Geology  of  Vermont,  and  having  lei 
sure,  I  began  to  put  down  in  my  private  journal,  facts  respecting 
the  College,  for  the  perusal  of  my  children  after  my  decease.  But 
Providence,  having  given  me  more  strength  during  the  winter,  to 
study,  my  notes  have  been  so  multiplied,  that  the  question  has 
arisen  whether  I  should  not  offer  them  to  the  public  while  I  live,  if 
I  am  able  to  finish  them.  I  have  not  seen  Mr.  Webster's  or  Dr. 
Humphrey's  Histories,  and  know  nothing  about  their  contents. 
But  I  can  hardly  suppose  there  will  be  much  interference  between 
my  Reminiscences  and  their  Histories.  I  do  not  profess  to  give 
either  a  complete  history  or  complete  biographies,  but  only  such 
facts  as  I  happened  to  learn,  or  were  connected  with  my  own 
experience.  Hence  I  have  felt  at  liberty  to  state  many  facts  which 
I  should  have  not  thought  proper  to  introduce  had  I  been  writing 
a  history  under  the  direction  of  the  Trustees,  nor  would  it  have 
been  proper  for  me,  in  such  a  case,  to  have  given  my  opinion  as  to 
measures,  so  freely  as  I  have  done.  As  I  am  alone  responsible,  I 
have  felt  at  liberty  to  use  greater  freedom  of  speech.  Even  if 
many  of  the  leading  facts  are  the  same  in  my  Reminiscences  as  in 
their  Histories,  I  hope  my  effort  will  not  be  regarded  as  useless, 
provided  I  have  been  able  to  add  numerous  facts  known  only  to 
myself.  It  will  probably  need  other  volumes  of  Reminiscences 
before  all  the  facts  respecting  Amherst  College  shall  be  brought 
out,  which  its  friends  will  hereafter  regard  as  worthy  of  preser 
vation. 

If,  on  any  points  as  to  the  founding  and  managing  of  a  College, 
I  have  expressed  opinions  in  which  some  of  my  colleagues  of  tho 
present  Faculty  do  not  agree  with  me,  I  trust  no  one-  will  imagine 
that  I  do  not  approve  of  the  general  policy,  both  of  Trustees  and 
Faculty.  That  policy  is,  indeed,  essentially  the  same  as  has  always 
been  followed.  But  I  have  never  known  it  more  successfully  car 
ried  out  than  by  the  present  Faculty,  nor  does  it  seem  to  me  that 
Amherst  College  ever  before  had  its  various  departments  of  instruc 
tion  so  ably  filled  as  now.  If,  on  a  few  unimportant  points,  I  may 
have  expressed  different  views  from  theirs,  I  cannot  believe  that 


PREFACE.  Vll 

any  one  will  regard  it  as  evidence  of  hostility,  or  a  desire  to  find 
fault,  or  would  wish  me  to  withhold  suggestions  founded  on  nearly 
two-score  years  of  observation.  Or  if  I  have  shown  too  much  zeal 
for  those  departments  to  which  most  of  those  years  have  been 
devoted,  I  shall  hope  that  my  life-long  labors  and  sacrifices  to 
make  this  branch  of  the  College  respectable,  may  plead  my  apology. 

I  have  now  been  for  months  on  the  bed  of  sickness,  balancing 
between  life  and  death.  I  have,  therefore,  just  sent  in  to  the 
Trustees,  a  resignation  of  my  connection  with  Amherst  College,  to 
take  effect  at  Commencement,  July  9th,  at  the  close  of  iny  38th 
collegiate  year.  The  chief  remaining  objection  to  the  publication 
of  this  work  viz. :  my  connection  with  College,  seems  to  me 
therefore  to  be  taken  out  of  the  way,  for  although  the  Trustees 
did  not  accept  my  resignation,  I  have  in  fact  ceased  to  have  any 
connection  with  the  operations  of  the  College. 

I  trust  this  book  will  be  found  to  possess  an  interest  extending 
beyond  the  affairs  and  particular  friends  of  Amherst  College,  for 
it  contains  a  large  amount  of  facts,  anecdotes  and  principles,  drawn 
from  almost  every  portion  of  my  life,  and  almost  all  parts  of  the 
world,  as  I  have  intimated  on  the  title-page.  The  friends  of  the 
College  are  indeed  very  numerous  and  wide  spread,  but  I  trust  that 
general  readers  will  find  enough  here  to  repay  their  attention  and 
perusal.  The  publishers  are  of  opinion  that  my  portrait,  prefixed 
to  the  work,  would  add  to  its  interest  with  very  many.  I  cannot 
agree  with  them  in  this  opinion,  and  had  set  myself  resolutely 
against  any  thing  of  the  kind,  but  I  yield  the  point  with  as  good  a 
grace  as  I  can. 

God  bless  Amherst  College,  now  and  in  all  coming  time,  with 
all  connected  with  it,  and  all  its  graduates. 

EDWARD  HITCHCOCK. 

SEPT.  1,  1863. 


CONTENTS. 


SECTION    I. 

Page. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES,        .        .        .    '    •       •        •       • 

S'ECTION  u. 

STATISTICAL  HISTOKY,  .        .      ,  .        .....        •        • 

SECTION    III. 
HISTORY  OP  THE  CABINETS,  LABORATORY  AND  LIBRARY,      .          71 

SECTION    IV. 
FINANCIAL  HISTORY,     .        .        . 117 

SECTION    V. 
HISTORY  or  TEMPERANCE  IN  THE  COLLEGE,       .        .        .        151 

SECTION    VI. 
RELIGIOUS  HISTORY,      .  • 159 

SECTION    VII. 
SCENERY  AND  GEOLOGY, •   -•        -        211 

SECTION    VIII. 
PERSONAL  HISTORY, 281 


REMINISCENCES. 


SE  CTION    I. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES. 

When  I  began  to  put  down  the  following  Reminiscences 
of  Amherst  College  as  a  matter  of  private  reference,  I  had 
no  definite  plan  of  arrangement  in  my  mind,  expecting,  indeed, 
that  they  would  be  brief  and  desultory.  But  as  they  grew 
under  my  hand  they  have  fallen  naturally  under  the  following 
heads  or  sections : — 

I. — Biographical  Notices. 
II. — Statistical  History. 

III. — History  of  the  Cabinets,  Laboratory  and  Library. 
IV. — Financial  History. 
V. — History  of  Temperance  in  the  College. 
VI. — Religious  History. 
VII. — Scenery  and  Geology. 
VIII.— Personal  History. 

The  names  of  the  individuals  referred  to  under  the  first 
head,  will  mostly,  though  not  exclusively,  be  found  upon  the 
Triennial  Catalogue. 

ZEPIIANIAH  SWIFT  MOORE,  D.  D. 

Dr.  Moore,  the  first  President,  stands  at  the  head.  He 
had  been  called  in  1815  from  the  professorship  of  languages, 
in  Dartmouth  College,  to  the  presidency  of  Williams  College, 


2  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMIIERST   COLLEGE. 

and  he  accepted  it  with  the  understanding  that  said  college 
should  be  removed  to  some  other  part  of  the  Commonwealth. 
He  gave  his  views  on  that  subject  in  his  Inaugural  Address, 
which  (probably  for  that  reason)  was  never  published.  As  a 
majority  of  the  trustees  were  opposed  to  its  removal,  the 
subject  was  allowed  to  rest  for  three  years,  long  enough  to 
convince  both  parties  that  they  were  right.  Accordingly, 
when  the  trustees  of  Amherst  Academy  presented  a  memorial 
to  those  of  Williams  College,  an  active  controversy  com 
menced,  in  which  Dr.  Moore  took  as  decided  a  part  as  was 
proper  for  him  in  favor  of  removal.  The  effort  failed,  and 
a  new  College  was  started  at  Amherst,  which  invited 
Dr.  Moore  to  its  presidency.  lie  accepted,  and  about  half 
of  the  students  at  Williams  followed  him.  It  must  have 
required  a  good  deal  of  moral  courage  and  strong  faith  to 
induce  him  to  take  the  lead  of  so  gigantic  an  enterprise, 
environed  with  so  many  difficulties,  and  opposed  by  so  many 
enemies.  But  he  was  the  right  man  to  start  the  new  College 
honorably  and  successfully.  His  career  was  short,  and 
probably  his  constitution  was  shattered  by  the  agitations  and 
perils  through  which  he  passed,  so  that  it  yielded  to  a  slight 
attack  of  disease.  But  he  was  not  to  be  taken  unawares,  and 
before  his  sickness  had  devoted  his  property  to  the  same 
object  for  which  the  College  was  founded,  viz. :  the  education 
of  pious  indigent  young  men.  His  venerable  widow  survived 
him  thirty-eight  years  ;  and  though  she  had  full  liberty  by  his 
will  to  use  the  principal  of  the  $4,000  left  to  the  College,  if 
necessary  to  her  comfort,  yet  so  scrupulously  anxious  was  she 
that  its  amount  should  not  be  diminished,  and  that  her  hus 
band's  wishes  should  be  fully  carried  out,  that  at  her  decease 
it  had  increased,  I  believe,  to  not  less  than  $7,000.  Her 
memory,  like  that  of  her  husband,  is  a  fragrant  one  at 
Amherst,  and  we  are  all  ready  to  say,  Give  her  of  the  fruit 
of  her  hands  ;  and  let  her  own  works  praise  her  in  the  gates. 


JOSHUA    CROSBY. 

Rev.  Joshua  Crosby  was  a  quiet,  devoted  pastor  in  the 
town  of  Enfield,  and  in  him  the  new  enterprise  found  a  cor 
dial  sympathizer.  He  could  not  bring  splendid  talents  or 
wealth,  or  a  wide  influence  to  aid  in  it.  But  he  could  give  it 
his  fervent  prayers,  his  unremitted  attention,  and  its  advocacy 
in  the  sphere  which  he  occupied,  and  these  were  just  the 
things  most  needed  in  its  earlier  stages.  For  seventeen 
years  did  he  stand  by  the  institution  in  every  exigency,  until 
he  was  called  to  a  higher  sphere  of  duty  in  another  world. 

JAMES   TAYLOR. 

The  Rev.  James  Taylor,  of  Sunderland,  was  a  man  of 
similar  character,  and  proved  alike  faithful.  He  could  always 
be  depended  on,  and  was  never  absent  from  the  meetings  of 
the  trustees  because  difficulties  and  discouragement  hedged 
up  their  path.  He  lived  only  eleven  years  after  the  organi 
zation  of  the  College.  But  he  did  not  die  till  he  had  seen  his ' 
prayers  answered  by  an  influx  of  more  than  two  hundred 
students,  giving  an  earnest  of  permanence  and  wide  usefulness. 

NATHANIEL    SMITH. 

In  Mr.  Taylor's  parish  was  a  layman  of  unusual  excellence 
of  religious  character,  who  entered  with  all  his  heart  into  the 
new  enterprise,  as  did  also  his  excellent  wife,  and  as  they 
were  possessed  of  more  property  than  the  clerical  members 
of  the  Board,  his  benefactions  were  frequent  and  liberal  at  a 
time  when  money  had  an  almost  priceless  value.  This  gentle 
man  was  Nathaniel  Smith,  Esq.,  who  passed  away  in  the 
same  year  with  his  beloved  pastor,  and  whose  character  was 
happily  delineated  by  Dr.  Humphrey,  in  a  published  sermon, 
entitled  "  The  Good  Arimathean."  Without  the  benefactions 
of  Nathaniel  Smith,  it  is  doubtful  whether  Amherst  College 
could  have  been  carried  through  its  early  conflicts.  Still 
more  important  was  it  that  his  gifts  were  sanctified  by  the 
fervent,  effectual  prayers  of  himself  and  consort. 


4  »       REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

COL.  RUFUS  GRAVES. 

Another  layman  who  had  much  to  do  with  the  starting 
of  this  College  was  Col.  Rufus  Graves,  then  a  resident 
of  Amherst.  He  was  a  man  of  peculiar  characteristics, 
rather  sluggish  and  indolent  in  his  movements,  yet,  under  the 
control  of  ardent  piety  easily  affected  himself,  and  therefore 
strongly  affecting  others.  In  this  enterprise  he  was  a  perfect 
enthusiast,  and  went  into  it  with  all  the  zeal  and  perseverance 
of  Peter  the  Hermit.  Whenever  he  could  get  a  chance  to 
address  a  group,  large  or  small,  he  would  pour  out  his  whole 
heart,  and  his  tears,  too,  as  I  have  witnessed,  and  though 
rather  clumsy  and  rude  in  speech,  he  would  deeply  enlist  the 
sympathies  of  his  audience.  No  one  could  hear  him  who  did 
not  see  that  he  was  most  thoroughly  convinced  of  what  he 
said,  and  of  the  immense  importance  of  the  enterprise  for  the 
good  of  the  world ;  also,  that  he  had  prayed  over  it  till  he 
felt  assured  God  was  on  his  side,  and  neither  reasoning  nor 
ridicule  could  shake  his  faith. 

And  here  let  me  say  that  the  leading  characteristic  of  the 
principal  advocates  of  this  enterprise  was  this  same  deep 
religious  conviction  that  it  was  God's  work  and  for  God's 
glory,  and  therefore  they  might  hope  for  success.  They  were 
not  actuated  by  the  desire  of  distinction,  but  by  the  love 
of  Christ  and  the  hope  of  the  spiritual  good  of  the  world. 
It  was  the  same  spirit  that  actuated  the  Apostles  and  early 
martyrs,  and  in  modern  times,  the  Pilgrims,  in  their  exodus 
to  this  country.  In  short,  it  was  the  most  powerful  principle 
that  ever  moves  the  human  soul.  And  it  needed  just  such 
men,  whom  no  obstacles  could  discourage,  nor  worldly  ridicule 
divert.  It  did  not  demand  men  of  eminent  talents  or  station, 
but  those  of  eminent  piety.  And  because  it  had  such,  the 
work  was  successful. 

According  to  Dr.  Humphrey  the  Constitution  and  system 
of  By-Laws  adopted  by  the  Trustees  of  Amherst  Academy 
in  1818,  for  raising  $50,000,  as  the  basis  of  the  new  College, 
"  was  drawn  up  with  care  and  legal  advisement  by  Col.  Rufus 


SAMUEL  F.   DICKINSON.  5 

Graves."  The  Preamble  to  that  Constitution  breathes  a  spirit 
as  decidedly  missionary  as  the  New  Testament  itself,  and  its 
authorship  might  well  be  coveted:  for  it  fixed  the  religious 
character  of  the  institution  and  stands  as  a  powerful  warning 
against  apostacy  and  the  diversion  of  funds  to  other  objects. 

Col.  Graves  gave  considerable  attention  to  some  branches 
of  science,  especially  chemistry,  and  formerly  lectured  on  that 
subject  in  Dartmouth  College  as  well  as  in  Amherst  Academy. 
He  did  the  same  also,  for  a  time,  in  the  new  College,  before 
the  appointment  of  a  professor.  He  lived  to  a  venerable  old 
age,  and  his  last  years  were  spent  in  Ohio. 

HON.  SAMUEL  F.  DICKINSON. 

Another  early  and  indefatigable  laborer  in  this  enterprise 
was  Hon.  Samuel  F.  Dickinson,  of  Amherst.  He  stood  high 
as  a  lawyer  and  his  advice  was  often  needed  by  his  clerical 
co-laborers.  He  was  one  of  the  most  industrious  and  perse 
vering  men  that  I  ever  saw.  He  was  very  much  employed 
in  the  settlement  of  estates  and  labored  day  and  night  in  his 
profession.  He  was  also  a  man  of  very  decided  religious 
principles,  and  when  once  satisfied  that  he  was  in  the  path 
of  duty,  his  face  was  as  a  flint,  and  he  reminded  one  of  the 
early  Puritans.  After  he  had  seen  the  College  firmly  estab 
lished,  he  went  West  and  became  connected  in  some  capacity 
with  the  secular  affairs  of  Lane  Seminary,  at  Cincinnati, 
where  he  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-two. 

From  all  that  I  can  learn,  I  have  no  doubt  that  Samuel  F. 
Dickinson  and  Col.  Graves  had  more  to  do  in  forming  and 
executing  plans  for  the  founding  of  Amherst  College  than  any 
other  men.  They,  I  belive,  first  conceived  and  labored  hard 
to  execute  the  plan  of  endowing  a  professorship  in  Amherst 
Academy  for  preparing  ministers  and  missionaries.  And 
when  they  found  that  they  could  not  succeed  in  this,  instead 
of  abandoning  the  whole  matter,  they  enlarged  their  plans 
and  undertook  to  found  a  new  college  with  the  same  object  in 
view,  rightly  judging  that  their  first  plan  was  too  narrow  to 


6  REMINISCENCES  OF  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

meet  the  feelings  of  Christian  benevolence.  All  these  plans 
were  discussed  over  and  over  again  by  these  two  gentlemen. 
Col.  Graves  was  ardent  and  impulsive,  and  thought  to  be 
visionary,  so  that  it  needed  the  cooler  and  more  practical 
judgment  of  Mr.  Dickinson  to  prevent  extravagance  in 
opinion  and  give  confidence  to  the  public.  Mr.  Dickinson 
was  so  full  of  business  that  he  could  not  go  abroad  much  to 
present  the  claims  of  the  proposed  institution,  but  Col.  Graves 
had  leisure  enough  and  needed  only  to  be  guided  by  his  friend's 
wise  counsels. 

DR.  COWLES  AND  ELISHA  BILLINGS. 
Several  other  laymen,  who  were  among  the  early  friends 
and  patrons  of  the  college, — most  of  them  from  its  very  incep 
tion, — may  as  well  be  mentioned  here.  Having  but  little 
acquaintance  with  Dr.  Rufus  Cowles,  I  cannot  say  much  of  his 
particular  efforts;  but  as  a  respectable  inhabitant  of  Amherst,  I 
do  not  doubt  he  did  all  he  could  to  aid  in  the  work.  With 
Deacon  Elisha  Billings,  of  Conway,  I  was  quite  intimately 
acquainted,  and  know  how  well  adapted  he  was  to  be  an 
efficient  pioneer.  He  had  received  a  public  education  and 
possessed  superior  abilities.  He  had  also  a  remarkably 
accurate  knowledge  of  men.  But  his  clear  views  of  religious 
doctrines  and  inflexible  adherence  to  the  faith  of  the  Puritans, 
made  him  the  steadfast  friend  of  every  effort  to  connect 
learning  and  religion  and  to  raise  up  men  qualified  to  defend 
and  propagate  the  Gospel  of  Christ.  His  support  of  the  new 
institution  was  no  halting,  lukewarm  advocacy.  He  had  not 
abundant  means,  but  did  what  he  could  as  to  pecuniary  aid. 
Yet  rarely  was  his  seat  vacant  at  the  meetings  of  the  Board, 
and  his  fervent  prayers  and  wise  and  encouraging  counsels 
were  most  efficient  elements  of  final  success.  Though  in 
moderate  circumstances  as  to  property,  yet  so  liberal  were  his 
benefactions  as  exceedingly  to  embarrass  his  widow  and 
children.  But  they,  too,  endowed  with  the  same  spirit, 
struggled  through  their  pecuniary  embarrassments.  His  wife, 


BILLINGS  AND  LELAND.  7 

indeed,  who  long  survived  her  husband,  was  an  extraordinary 
example  of  eminent  piety  and  devotion  to  benevolent  objects, 
conjoined  with  extreme  humility.  When  the  effort  was  being 
made  to  raise  $50,000  to  start  the  College,  she  circulated  the 
life  of  Franke  so  widely  that  the  copy  was  worn  out.  She 
believed,  and  so  did  all  the  men  and  women  who  founded 
Amherst  College,  that  the  principles  adopted  and  acted  upon 
by  Franke  as  to  trust  in  God  and  the  power  of  prayer,  to  be 
scriptural,  and  such  essentially  let  it  be  always  remembered, 
were  the  principles  on  which  Amherst  College  was  founded. 
The  type  of  the  piety  of  its  originators  was  that  of  Spener 
and  Franke  in  earlier  times,  and  of  Muller  in  our  own  times. 
God  save  the  institution  from  ever  coming  to  regard  such 
faith  and  prayer  as  dangerous  enthusiasm !  I  do  not  mean 
that  the  founders  of  Amherst  College  would  endorse  all  the 
views  of  Franke  or  Muller.  But  their  doctrine  as  to  the 
safety  of  trusting  in  God  in  every  exigency  and  of  specific 
answers  to  special  prayer  in  respect  to  things  temporal  as  well 
as  spiritual,  was  most  firmly  believed  and  acted  upon  in  this 
work.  Again  and  again  would  they  have  given  it  over  in 
despair  if  they  had  not  felt  sure  that  God  would  appear  for 
them  if  their  faith  failed  not.  Hence,  when  they  had  no 
funds,  they  were  more  importunate  in  prayer  and  would  not 
let  God  go  without  the  blessing.  Does  not  the  result  show 
that  they  stood  upon  safe  ground  ?  During  many  of  the  early 
years  of  this  institution,  the  enterprise,  judged  of  by  merely 
secular  sagacity  and  wisdom,  would  seem  certain  to  fail,  and 
its  failure  was  confidently  predicted  by  many  a  wise  and  many 
a  good  man  who  had  not  the  faith  of  its  founders. 

HON.  JOHN  LELAND. 

Hon.  John  Leland,  the  Treasurer  of  the  College  for  the  first 
fourteen  years  of  its  legal  existence,  came  to  reside  in  Amherst 
about  the  time  when  the  first  efforts  were  made  for  its  endow 
ment,  and  was  a  liberal  donor.  And  ever  afterwards,  when 
the  College  was  passing  through  exigencies,  his  benefactions 


8  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

were  not  wanting.  His  piety  was  of  that  stamp  which  appre 
ciated  the  need  and  the  value  of  the  movement.  But  it  was 
as  Treasurer  during  the  most  trying  pecuniary  days  of  the  new 
institution  that  his  greatest  sacrifices  were  made.  Funds 
must  in  some  way  or  other  be  obtained,  and  the  trustees  could 
see  no  way  but  to  resort  to  borrowing.  Yet  they  had  nothing 
to  offer  as  security  to  the  lender.  It  became  necessary,  there 
fore,  for  individuals  to  become  personally  responsible.  Others 
sometimes  came  to  his  aid ;  but  I  am  assured  that  during 
most  of  his  term  of  office  he  was  holden  to  creditors  for  college 
debts  to  an  amount  sometimes  nearly  equal  to  his  whole 
property.  This  is  a  reponsibility  which  not  many  men  have 
benevolence  enough  to  assume,  especially  with  a  large  and 
perhaps  invalid  family  dependent  upon  them.  I  have  often 
thought  that  this  great  service  the  College  has  but  poorly 
appreciated.  Yet  Deacon  Leland  has  nevertheless  ever  con 
tinued  the  friend  and  helper  of  the  institution.  It  was  but 
yesterday  (November  28th,  1861,)  that  I  found  him  in  his 
sick  chamber,  sustained  in  the  prospect  of  dissolution  and 
amid  severe  pain,  by  those  great  principles  for  which  he  has 
made  many  sacrifices  during  a  long  life.  Blessed  Saviour,  I 
know  that  Thou  wilt  not  forsake  him  as  he  goes  into  the  dark 
valley. 

At  a  date  almost  two  years  later,  I  am  happy  to  say,  that 
Deacon  Leland  recovered  from  his  sickness,  and  though  very 
old  and  feeble,  I  trust  God  has  something  more  for  him  to 
do  on  earth  before  He  calls  him  to  the  work  of  a  higher 
sphere. 

HON.  EDWARD  DICKINSON,  LL.  D. 
Hon.  Edward  Dickinson  succeeded  Deacon  Leland  as 
Treasurer,  in  1835,  and  has  occupied  the  place  ever  since 
with  great  fidelity  and  success.  He  is  the  son  of  Hon.  S.  F. 
Dickinson,  already  described,  and  has  not  proved  recreant  to 
the  spirit  of  his  father.  He  has  been  with  the  institution  in 
many  of  its  darkest  hours,  and  lived  to  bring  its  financial 


AUSTIN  DICKINSON.  9 

concerns  triumphantly  out  of  their  embarrassments,  and  he 
will  need  only  the  co-operation  of  his  colleagues  to  keep  them 
upon  high  vantage  ground.  The  confidence  placed  in  Mr. 
Dickinson  by  the  public  has  been  manifest  by  the  numerous 
eminent  political  offices  to  which  he  has  been  called.  He  is 
still  in  the  full  vigor  of  mature  life. 

LUCIUS    BOLTWOOD. 

Lucius  Boltwood,  Esq.,  was  appointed  Financier,  or  as  it  is 
now  called,  Commissioner  of  the  Charity  Fund,  in  1834,  and 
Scribe  of  the  Trustees,  in  1828,  and  has  filled  both  offices  ever 
since.  He  has  been  familiar  with  all  those  even  from  the 
beginning  who  have  taken  an  active  part  in  starting  and 
building  up  the  institution,  having  been  a  law  student  in  Hon. 
S.  F.  Dickinson's  office  when  the  first  efforts  were  made  and 
the  first  discussions  carried  on  in  that  office  concerning' it. 
All  the  financial  matters  in  his  department  he  has  managed 
with  much  skill,  and  often  lent  the  Treasurer  his  credit  when 
needful  to  borrow  money.  His  object  by  these  sacrifices  has 
not  been  to  gain  reputation,  but  to  sustain  and  carry  forward 
the  College  towards  which  he  has  done  much.  To  him  as 
well  as  to  Mr.  Dickinson,  I  am  indebted  for  many  of  the 
statistical  and  financial  facts  detailed  in  the  following  pages, 
and  which  were  fast  passing  into  oblivion. 

REV.  AUSTIN  DICKINSON. 

An  individual  deserves  notice  here  who  never  had  any 
official  connection  with  the  College,  but  was  a  native  of 
Amherst,  and  one  of  the  most  efficient  instruments  of  its 
establishment, — I  refer  to  Rev.  Austin  Dickinson.  His  plan 
through  life  was  to  influence  men  without  letting  them  know 
that  he  was  acting  on  them  at  all.  He  was  a  man  of  superior 
abilities,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth,  and  an  eloquent  and 
effective  preacher.  But  he  was  never  a  settled  pastor.  He 
felt  his  mission  to  be  rather  to  start  and  bring  into  operation 
new  plans  for  doing  good;  and  though  some  of  his  plans 
1* 


10  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

appeared  bold  and  quixotic,  he  had  great  skill  in  bringing 
them  about.  With  his  vigorous  pen  he  struck  many  a  heavy 
blow  in  favor  of  Amherst  College,  himself  quite  out  of  sight. 
While  in  Tennessee,  he  undertook  and  succeeded  beyond  all 
expectations  in  raising  funds  to  endow  Maryville  College. 
On  his  way  back  he  started  in  Richmond  the  first  religious 
paper  in  the  southern  States,  "The  Family  Visitor,"  for 
which  he  obtained  several  thousand  subscribers,  and  which 
was  subsequently  united  with  "  The  Christian  Observer."  In 
1826,  he  started  "The  National  Preacher,"  in  New  York, 
which  has  been  continued  ever  since.  His  last  and  perhaps 
most  important  enterprise  was  to  get  the  secular  newspapers 
to  introduce  religious  intelligence  into  their  columns,  which 
is  now  so  universal. 

COL.  TRASK. 

With  Col.  Israel  E.  Trask,  of  Springfield,  I  had  not  much 
personal  acquaintance.  I  recolect  him  chiefly  as  a  gentleman 
of  fine  personal  appearance,  and  we  know  that  he  was  a 
liberal  subscriber  to  the  fifty  thousand  dollars  fund.  What 
other  special  efforts  he  made  to  promote  the  object  I  know 
not. 

HON.  JOHN  HOOKER. 

I  should  make  similar  remarks  in  relation  to  another  Spring 
field  gentleman  numbered  among  the  earliest  Trustees,  viz. : 
Hon.  John  Hooker.  Maintaining  an  honorable  position  in 
the  legal  profession  and  on  the  bench,  the  sanction  of  his 
name  and  influence  to  the  new  enterprise  must  have  been 
highly  important  and  beneficial.  How  much  money  he  con 
tributed  to  it  I  have  not  ascertained ;  but  he  took  a  deep 
interest  in  the  plan,  and  doubtless  did  what  he  could  to 
promote  it. 

S.  V.  S.  WILDER. 

The  name  of  S.  V.  S.  Wilder,  Esq.,  of  New  York,  does  not 
appear  on  the  list  of  Trustees  till  1824.  Nevertheless  he 


WILDER  AND  WEBSTER.  11 

took  an  active  part  in  the  enterprise  before  a  charter  was 
obtained.  And  when  a  committee  of  the  Legislature  appeared 
in  Amherst  to  look  into  the  affairs  of  the  proposed  Collegiate 
Institute,  and  its  enemies  attempted  to  show  that  the  subscrip 
tion  was  good  for  nothing,  Mr.  Wilder  rendered  great  service 
by  cashing  note  after  note  which  were  brought  forward  as 
worthless.  He  was  also  a  liberal  subscriber  to  the  funds  of 
the  College.  He  had  been  a  silk  merchant  in  Paris,  and 
while  there  had  done  much  to  promote  the  cause  of  evangelical 
religion.  He  was  a  principal  means  of  starting  the  first 
French  Bible  Society,  and  was  associated  with  Baron  Cuvier 
and  others  as  its  Directors.  When  he  returned  to  this  country 
he  made  special  efforts  to  build  up  Orthodox  churches  in 
regions  where  Unitarianism  had  well  nigh  obliterated  vital 
godliness.  He  felt  therefore  a  deep  interest  in  the  effort  to 
found  an  institution  which  should  be  decidedly  religious  in  its 
character,  and  yet  whose  standard  of  scholarship  should  be  so 
high  as  to  command  the  respect  of  all.  Mr.  Wilder  was 
afterwards  unfortunate  in  his  pecuniary  affairs  and  resigned 
his  place  on  the  Board  and  rarely  afterwards  visited  Amherst, 
though  he  still  lives,  because,  as  he  told  me,  he  could  not  now 
do  as  he  once  did  before  the  committee  of  the  Legislature ; 
that  is,  he  could  not  contribute  to  supply  the  wants  of  the 
institution. 

NOAH  WEBSTER. 

Noah  Webster,  Esq.,  was  living  in  Amherst  at  the  time  the 
college  enterprise  was  started  by  the  Trustees  of  the  Acad 
emy.  For  a  time  he  was  President  of  that  Board,  and  he 
sympathized  with  the  movement  as  his  Address  at  the  laying 
of  the  corner-stone  of  the  first  edifice  shows.  Although  Mr. 
Webster's  literary  reputation  was  not  then  as  high  as  after 
wards,  his  advocacy  of  the  new  plan  no  doubt  tended  to  render 
it  respectable  among  literary  men.  How  much  he  aided  the 
work  pecuniarily  I  do  not  know;  but  presume  he  did  not 


12  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

refuse  to  patronize  with  his  purse  what  he  recommended  with 
his  pen  and  his  influence. 

HON.  WILLIAM  B.  CALHOUN,  LL.  D. 
Hon.  William  B.  Calhoun  has  now  been  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  College  Trustees  for  thirty-four  years,  longer  than 
any  one  except  Dr.  Yaill.  And  all  that  time  he  has  been  a 
most  consistent  and  efficient  friend  of  the  institution.  His 
high  standing  as  a  scholar  and  in  political  and  social  life  has 
given  great  influence  to  his  judgment  and  opinion,  and  he  has 
ever  stood  by  the  College  in  all  its  exigencies.  It  has  passed 
through  some  of  the  most  trying  of  these  during  his  connection 
with  it ;  yet  his  friendship  and  influence  could  always  be 
relied  upon  in  the  darkest  hour,  and  though  Providence  had 
not  put  abundant  pecuniary  resources  into  his  hands,  his  influ 
ence  has  opened  the  purses  of  others  more  highly  favored  in 
this  respect.  In  short,  Amherst  College  has  no  one  on  its  list 
of  patrons  and  friends  who  has  been  more  judicious  in  council, 
or  shown  more  consistency  in  friendship,  than  William  B. 
Calhoun. 

JOHN  TAPPAN. 

Another  name  stands  on  the  list  of  Trustees  from  1834  to 
1854,  to  which  the  College  is  most  deeply  indebted.  I  mean 
that  of  John  Tappan,  Esq.  How  early  he  enlisted  in  its  service 
I  cannot  say ;  but  during  those  twenty  years,  and  many  of  them 
were  years  of  great  trial,  his  aid  was  invaluable.  For  he  is 
one  of  those  men  who  do  more  than  they  say.  It  was  not  his 
ambition  to  give  a  large  sum  at  one  time  and  let  that  answer 
for  the  whole.  But  he  watched  his  opportunities,  and  when 
he  saw  chances  offering  for  giving  a  start  to  important  enter 
prises  he  took  care  to  give  them  such  a  headway  by  his  sub 
scriptions  as  to  ensure  a  like  liberality  from  others,  and  thus 
secure  their  success.  In  this  way  I  am  sure  that  three 
important  enterprises  were  made  successful  by  his  benefac 
tions  and  counsel :  one  in  relation  to  the  cause  of  Temperance ; 


TAPPAN,   ALDEN,  EDWARDS   AND   CHILD.  13 

another  in  regard  to  the  Library,  and  a  third  in  Ichnology. 
The  details  in  regard  to  these  efforts  I  hope  to  give  when  I 
come  to  my  own  personal  connection  with  the  College.  But 
these  were  only  a  part  of  the  occasions  when  Mr.  Tappan's 
liberality  towards  the  College  was  displayed. 

EBENEZER    ALDEN,  M.  D. 

Dr.  Ebenezer  Alden,  of  Randolph,  has  now  been  for  twenty- 
one  years  one  of  our  most  efficient,  judicious  and  valuable 
Trustees.  His  extensive  knowledge  of  educational  institu 
tions  and  official  connection  with  so  many  of  a  benevolent 
character,  and  his  high  standing  as  a  physician,  have  made 
his  services  peculiarly  valuable.  Nor  has  his  aid  been  parox 
ysmal  and  inconstant.  No  man  has  been  more  punctual  at 
all  meetings,  or  stood  more  firm  in  all  exigencies  than  he. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Board  during  that  period  of  deep 
declension,  which  reached  its  lowest  point  in  1845,  and  he  did 
much  to  get  the  ship  off  from  the  breakers  into  the  open  sea. 
His  confidence  in  the  College  was  shown  in  the  fact  that  he 
carried  two  sons  through  it  who  have  been  men  of  great 
usefulness  as  ministers. 

HENRY  EDWARDS. 

Of  an  analogous  character  have  been  the  services  of  Henry 
Edwards,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  who  became  a  Trustee  in  1844. 
Familiar  with  the  details  of  business  as  a  merchant,  and 
extensively  acquainted  with  men  of  wealth  and  benevolence, 
and  by  his  mild  and  amiable  manners  adapted  to  win  their 
confidence,  and  being  always  ready  to  speak  a  good  word  for 
the  College,  his  aid  has  been  invaluable.  May  he  live  many 
years  to  help  advance  the  interests  of  the  institution. 

HON.  •  LINUS    CHILD. 

Hon.  Linus  Child  is  another  layman,  who  resigned  his 
place  five  years  ago,  but  is  still  alive,  and  for  twelve  years 
was  a  wise  and  trusty  counsellor  and  advocate  of  the  College. 
He  was  ever  prompt  to  attend  the  meetings  of  the  Board,  and 


14  REMINISCENCES   OP  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

to  second  efforts  in  tho  intervals  between  the  meetings  for 
obtaining  funds,  and  for  other  purposes,  and  as  he  came  into 
the  Board  in  its  darkest  day,  he  had  abundant  opportunity  to 
show  his  fidelity  to  a  cause  which  was  then  unpopular. 

ALPHEUS    HARDY. 

In  the  same  class  I  place  Alpheus  Hardy,  Esq.,  of  Boston. 
Though  he  has  been  a  Trustee  only  since  1855,  so  valuable 
and  efficient  have  been  his  services  that  we  cannot  but  hope 
that  his  connection  with  the  College  may  be  long  continued. 
One  special  service  which  he  has  performed,  is  the  establish 
ment  of  three  annual  prizes  for  improvement  in  extempora 
neous  speaking. 

OTHER    TRUSTEES    AND    FRIENDS. 

I  shall  not  go  into  detail  in  respect  to  those  younger  lay 
members  of  the  Board  who  were  our  graduates,  for  they  have 
mostly  been  elected  since  I  left  the  presidency,  and  I  am 
not  familiar  with  particular  services  which  they  may  have 
rendered.  I  only  know  that  the  prestige  of  the  names  and 
influence  of  gentlemen  so  distinguished  as  they  have  been  on 
the  bench,  and  in  social  and  political  life,  has  been  very  valu 
able,  and  that  they  have  been  prompt  to  render  any  private 
services  to  the  College  which  have  been  asked.  Judge  J.  C. 
PERKINS,  of  Salem,  has  been  a  Trustee  since  1850 ;  Hon. 
A.  H.  BULLOCK,  of  Worcester,  since  1852 ;  Judge  HENRY 
MORRIS,  of  Springfield,  since  1854 ;  Dr.  NATHAN  ALLEN,  of 
Lowell,  since  1857,  and  Hon.  E.  B.  GILLETT,  of  Westfield, 
since  1861.  I  ought  to  add  that  Dr.  Allen  and  Dr.  Alden 
have  been  indefatigable  in  their  efforts  to  shape  the  plans  and 
advance  the  interests  of  the  new  department  of  Hygiene  and 
Physical  Culture. 

Of  several  other  distinguished  laymen  whose  names  appear 
on  the  Triennial  Catalogue  as  Trustees,  I  have  not  much  to 
say,  because  I  know  but  little.  I  do  know,  however,  that 
Hon.  WILLIAM  B.  BANISTER,  who  was  fourteen  years  a 


BANISTER,  MACK,   FOSTER,   ETC.  15 

member,  was  a  most  faithful  and  constant  coadjutor,  and  that 
he  did  much  to  sustain  the  institution,  by  his  prayers,  his 
influence  and  his  benefactions.  The  same  may  be  said  of 
Lieutenant-Governor  ARMSTRONG,  who  was  a  member  sixteen 
years,  and  remembered  the  institution  liberally  in  his  will. 
Hon.  SAMUEL  C.  ALLEN  was  a  Unitarian  of  the  Socinian 
school,  one  of  the  few  gentlemen  of  that  denomination  who 
have  been  on  theBoard.  But  being  a  man  of  enlarged  views, 
he  cordially  and  efficiently  sustained  the  institution  for- sixteen 
years  without  any  attempt  to  counteract  Orthodox  views. 
Hon.  DAVID  MACK  was  a  citizen  of  Amherst,  and  a  Trustee 
from  1836  to  1854.  He  was  a  man  of  great  decision  of  char 
acter  and  a  devoted  Christian,  and  liberal  in  his  benefactions. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Board's  Prudential  Committee  for 
many  years,  and  never  shrunk  from  any  duty  he  could  perform 
or  pecuniary  sacrifice  he  could  make.  Hon.  GEORGE 
GRENNELL  was  a  Trustee  twenty-one  years,  from  1838  to 
1859,  and  though  often  prevented  by  business  from  being 
present  at  the  meetings  of  the  Board,  the  College  ever  found 
in  him  a  cordial  friend,  and  its  object,  as  we  might  pre 
sume  from  his  religious  character,  was  ever  dear  to  him. 
From  1838  to  1852  Hon.  ALFRED  D.  FOSTER  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Board,  and  a  judicious  counsellor.  He  did 
not  resign  his  place  during  the  season  of  the  College's  deep 
est  depression,  though  his  faith  nearly  gave  out.  His  nice 
sense  of  propriety  is  seen  in  another  fact.  Though  he  had 
carried  a  protege  (Prof.  March)  through  Amherst  College,  who 
proved  to  be  one  of  its  brightest  ornaments,  yet  because  his 
own  son  graduated  at  another  institution,  so  nice  was  his 
sense  of  propriety  that  lie  resigned  his  place  on  the  Board. 
But  they  would  not  accept  his  resignation. 

His  Honor  Lieutenant-Governor  WILLIAM  GRAY  was  a 
member  of  the  Board  one  year,  from  1825  to  182G;  His 
Excellency  LEVI  LINCOLN  from  1828  to  1829  ;  Hon.  SAMUEL 
HOWE  from  182 G  to  1828  ;  Hon.  ELIPHALET  WILLIAMS  from 
1829  to  1830;  Hon.  SAMUEL  LATIIROP  from  1829  to  1834; 


16  REMINISCENCES   OP  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

Hon.  JONATHAN  LEAVITT  from  1825  to  1829  ;  Hon.  LEWIS 
STRONG  from  1825  to  1833  ;  Hon.  JAMES  FOWLER  from  1826 
to  1838;  and  His  Excellency  MARCUS  MORTON  from  1825  to 
1837.  These  gentlemen  were  all  friendly  to  the  College  and 
the  prestige  of  their  names  was  no  doubt  serviceable  to  it. 
But  I  am  unable  to  state  particular  acts  of  theirs  in  its 
behalf.  The  three  first  named,  as  well  as  Mr.  Fowler,  I 
believe,  were  Unitarians,  but  this  fact  did  not  seem  to  make 
their  support  of  the  College  less  cordial.  Governor  Morton, 
either  from  pressure  of  business  or  inattention,  neglected  for 
more  than  three  years  to  attend  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Board,  and  therefore,  at  the  end  of  his  twelfth  year,  by  a  rule 
of  that  body,  his  membership  ceased. 

The  Charter  of  the  College  was  granted  in  1825,  in 
February.  By  that  instrument  the  first  five  vacancies  in  a 
Board  of  seventeen  Trustees  were  "to  be  filled  and  their 
places  ever  after  supplied  by  the  General  Court  in  joint  ballot 
of  both  Houses."  The  following  is  a  list  up  to  1861,  of  the 
members  who  have  been  thus  elected: — His  Honor  Lieu 
tenant-Governor  Gray,  Hon.  Elihu  Lyman,  Hon.  Samuel  O. 
Allen,  Hon.  James  Fowler,  Hon.  Samuel  Howe,  His 
Excellency  Levi  Lincoln,  Hon.  William  B.  Calhoun,  Hon. 
Samuel  Lathrop,  Hon.  George  Grennell,  Hon.  Linus  Child, 
Hon.  Samuel  Williston,  Hon.  Jonathan  C.  Perkins,  Hon. 
Edward  B.  Gillett,  Dr.  Nathan  Allen. 

Thus  far  the  Legislature  have  been  ready  to  elect  such 
candidates  as  the  friends  of  the  College  proposed,  and  without 
exception,  these  gentlemen  have  been  cordial  and  efficient 
friends  of  the  institution. 

HON.  SAMUEL  WILLISTON. 

I  have  omitted  one  name  of  a  layman  from  the  list 
of  Trustees,  which,  though  first  introduced  in  1842,  will  in 
all  future  histories  of  the  College  head  the  list  of  its  benefac 
tors.  I  mean  that  of  Hon.  Samuel  Williston.  He  was  not 
old  enough  nor  wealthy  enough,  when  the  College  was  started, 


SAMUEL  WILLISTON.  17 

to  aid  in  laying  its  foundations.  But  Providence  reserved 
him  for  the  time  when  he  was  needed  to  save  the  institution 
from  sinking  under  its  embarrassments,  and  then  gave  him 
the  disposition  to  come  to  the  rescue.  How  he  was  led  to  do 
this,  it  will  be  more  convenient  to  describe  in  another  connec 
tion.  I  shall  here  give  only  a  few  facts  of  his  early  history 
and  the  mode  in  which  he  acquired  the  means  for  his  princely 
contributions  to  the  cause  of  education. 

Mr.  Williston  was  the  son  of  Rev.  S.  Payson  Williston, 
of  East  Hampton.  As  he  grew  up,  it  was  his  purpose  to 
obtain  a  public  education.  But  in  the  course  of  preparation, 
his  eyes  failed  him  and  he  devoted  himself  for  a  time  to 
teaching,  thus  acquiring  a  deep  interest  in  educational  insti 
tutions.  But  he  was  not  able  to  resume  his  studies,  and 
with  sadness  turned  to  other  pursuits  to  obtain  a  living. 
Little  did  he  imagine  what  a  field  of  usefulness  Providence 
was  opening  before  him.  His  wife,  as  a  means  of  procuring 
a  little  money  for  some  benevolent  object,  commenced  the 
covering  of  buttons.  The  enterprise  succeeded  so  well  that 
it  was  repeated,  and  at  length  Mr.  Williston  went  into  it 
more  and  more,  as  he  found  the  demand  increasing.  And 
this  was  the  principal  means,  though  afterwards  kindred 
manufactures  were  added,  by  which  he  gained  so  much 
property  as  to  pass  in  the  country  for  a  millionaire.  But  it 
needed  Divine  Grace  to  dispose  him  to  turn  his  funds  into  the 
educational  channel,  though  not  to  the  neglect  of  objects  more 
strictly  religious.  Yet,  in  all  his  efforts  to  found  and  sustain 
seminaries  of  learning,  the  chief  motive  was  the  bearing  they 
would  have  upon  religion.  This  was  the  object  mainly 
of  founding  Williston  Seminary  in  his  native  place,  to  which 
he  has  already  given  certainly  not  less  than  $85,000  or 
$90,000.  The  results  have  already  been  highly  gratifying, 
not  merely  in  the  education  of  so  many  of  our  youth  for 
important  posts  in  life,  but  in  the  conversion  of  so  many 
during  their  academic  course,  and  thus  giving  a  right  direc 
tion  to  their  acquisitions. 


18  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

What  Mr.  Williston  has  done  for  Amherst  College,  I  have 
already  in  part  described,  in  my  valedictory  address,  when 
leaving  the  presidency.  But  I  propose  to  go  still  more  into 
the  details  in  a  subsequent  part  of  these  Reminiscences.  The 
aggregate  of  his  efforts  for  education,  in  connection  with 
religion,  is  a  grand  picture  of  Christian  benevolence.  One 
would  think  that  the  retrospect  in  his  old  age  as  well  as  that 
of  his  noble  wife,  who  still  survives,  must  be  highly  gratifying. 
May  they  long  live  to  do  much  more  in  this  great  work  befpre 
they  are  called  to  higher  rewards ! 

I  do  not  suppose  that  the  hope  of  acquiring  a  worldly  repu 
tation,  or  a  name  in  time  to  come,  was  among  the  motives  by 
which  Mr.  Williston  was  actuated  in  his  benefactions,  save 
that  every  man  who  consecrates  the  fruits  of  his  industry  to 
the  good  of  the  public,  desires  that  they  should  be  duly  appre 
ciated,  and  that  his  example,  by  being  known,  may  lead  others 
to  do  likewise.  But  it  is  interesting  to  observe  how  God's 
Providence  has  so  ordered  it  that  he  could  not  have  taken  a 
surer  method  to  secure  a  world-wide  reputation  while  he  lives, 
and  to  send  a  glorious  name  down  to  the  remotest  posterity, 
than  by  founding  and  fostering  institutions  of  learning  with  a 
religious  basis.  Already  he  is  well  known  as  a  liberal  bene 
factor  of  learning  in  this  country  and  in  Europe,  and  amid 
the  revolutions  of  society  the  thing  most  likely  to  survive 
century  after  century  is  its  literary  institutions.  This  is  a 
fulfilment  of  God's  promise,  them  that  honor  Me  I  will  honor. 
It  is  singular  that  wealthy  men  who  are  without  religion  but 
who  desire  (as  who  does  not)  to  transmit  an  honored  name  to 
posterity,  should  not  oftener  see  how  easily  it  might  be  done 
by  building  up  literary  institutions.  But  for  the  most  part 
while  they  will  lavish  fortunes  upon  buildings,  and  parks,  and 
ornaments,  as  private  residences,  which  will  hardly  survive 
their  own  short  lives,  they  can  so  rarely  be  induced  to  attach 
their  names  to  an  Academy,  a  College,  a  Professorship,  a 
Library,  or  a  Cabinet,  feeling  as  if  all  bestowed  upon  such 
objects  were  lost  money. 


VAILL  AND  FISKE.  19 

DR.  VAILL. 

I  would  now  briefly  notice  other  early  friends  to  the  insti 
tution  who  belonged  to  the  clerical  profession.  And  I  would 
first  mention  the  man  still  living  who  has  been  longer  than 
any  other  officially  connected  with  the  College,  and  its  steadfast 
friend  and  advocate.  I  refer  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Vaill, 
now  settled  in  Palmer.  I  believe  that  he  was  also  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Amherst  Academy  when  the  plan 
of  a  college  was  first  developed.  At  any  rate  he  was  made  a 
member  of  the  College  Board  in  1821,  when  it  first  started, 
and  ever  since  he  has  continued  a  member,  that  is  for  forty 
years.  Rarely  during  all  that  time  has  he  been  absent  from 
its  meetings,  or  shrunk  from  the  most  arduous  and  trying 
labors  in  its  behalf.  It  has  been  particularly  as  an  Agent  to 
obtain  funds  that  he  has  done  the  most  to  sustain  it.  He 
was  even  dismissed  from  the  ministry  once  in  order  to  take 
this  office,  one  of  the  most  thankless  and  trying  of  all  con 
nected  with  the  institution.  Gentlemanly  and  bland  as  well 
as  Christian  in  his  demeanor  and  intercourse,  and  deeply 
convinced  of  the  importance  of  the  object,  he  pleaded  the  cause 
of  the  College  with  much  success,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the 
funds  which  he  obtained,  I  know  not  how  it  could  have  been 
carried  forward.  True  we  became  convinced  that  the  institution 
must  cease  to  be  longer  a  beggar  before  the  community  ;  but 
so  long  as  it  was  such  Dr.  Vaill  faithfully  presented  its  claims, 
and  since  that  time  in  other  relations,  especially  as  a  member 
of  the  Prudential  Committee,  for  years  he  has  done  his  part 
promptly  and  successfully.  He  may  now  be  regarded  as  a 
patriarch  of  the  institution. 

DR.  FISKE. 

Another  similar  patriarch,  who  died  in  I860,  was  Rev.  Dr. 
John  Fiske,  of  New  Braintree.  He,  too,  was  a  member  of  the 
Board  in  1821  ;  but  when  a  charter  was  obtained  in  1825,  he 
was  left  out  till  1820,  when  he  was  again  elected,  and  continued 
in  the  office  till  the  time  of  his  death,  in  all  thirty  years.  He 


20  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

was  a  man  of  strong  intellect  and  admirable  judgment,  con 
joined  with  piety  of  the  true  Puritan  stamp.  He  was  just  the 
man  to  stand  by  the  institution  while  passing  through  an 
exigency.  For  having  once  settled  his  course  by  the  chart  of 
duty,  and  put  his  hand  to  the  helm,  none  of  the  cross  currents 
of  popular  favor  or  popular  frowns  could  change  it  by  the 
smallest  rhumb.  No  plea  of  conflicting  duties  or  important 
business  at  home,  or  of  poor  health,  by  which  not  a  few  men 
excuse  themselves  from  meetings  where  unpleasant  and  trying 
responsibilities  must  be  assumed,  ever  kept  him  away  from  the 
meetings  of  the  Board.  Amherst  College  never  had  a  wiser 
counsellor  or  a  more  consistent  and  devoted  friend  than  Dr. 
John  Fiske. 

DR.  PACKARD. 

A  similar  friend  the  College  had  in  Rev.  Dr.  Theophilus 
Packard,  of  Shelburne.  From  the  very  first  he  was  decidedly 
and  actively  engaged  in  promoting  the  new  enterprise,  and  I 
have  been  told  by  a  gentleman  who  heard  it,  that  in  the 
Convention  that  met  in  Amherst  at  the  invitation  of  the 
Trustees  of  the  Academy,  in  September,  1818,  no  speech  there 
made  was  so  able  or  effective  as  that  of  Dr.  Packard.  Yet 
he  was  then  and  continued  till  1825,  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  Williams  College.  His  decided  efforts  for  the 
removal  of  that  institution  to  Hampshire  County  drew  upon 
him  a  great  deal  of  popular  odium. 

Dr.  Packard  contmued  a  member  of  the  Trustee  Board  till 
1854,  the  year  before  he  died,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six,  and 
though  for  a  few  years  before  his  death  his  powers  were  so 
impaired  that  the  College  might  say  non  tali  auxilio  tempus 
eget,  yet  he  continued  to  visit  us  and  to  take  as  deep  an  inter 
est  as  ever  in  the  institution.  No  man  had  ever  been  more 
punctual  to  all  his  engagements,  through  evil  as  well  as  good 
report,  than  lie.  No  matter  though  the  meeting  promised  to 
be  a  most  discouraging  one,  the  treasury  without  funds,  the 
number  of  pupils  diminishing,  and  the  enemies  of  the  College 


CLARK  AND  ELY.  21 

beginning  to  exult  over  its  apprehended  downfall,  yet  Dr. 
Packard  would  be  sure  to  be  there  to  pray  and  speak  encour 
aging  words  to  those  who  were  trying  to  keep  the  wheels  in 
motion.  Dr.  Packard's  forte  was  intellectual  philosophy,  and 
he  made  special  efforts  to  sustain  that  department,  and  even  I 
believe  instituted  some  prizes.  He  had  one  of  the  most  acute 
minds  in  the  country,  and  if  his  habits  had  been  a  little  more 
scholarly  and  his  reading  commensurate  with  his  thinking,  no 
one  would  have  gone  before  him  in  psychology.  [See  my 
published  Sermon,  at  his  funeral.'] 

DANIEL  A.  CLARK. 

Kev.  Daniel  A.  Clark  was  pastor  of  the  West  Parish 
Church  in  Amherst  at  the  period  when  the  College  was 
started,  and  he  cordially  lent  his  efforts  to  promote  the  object, 
as  his  published  sermon,  a  Plea  for  a  miserable  World,  testi 
fies.  He  was,  as  is  well  known,  one  of  the  ablest  sermonizers 
in  our  country ;  yet  after  sitting  for  a  fortnight  on  an  ecclesi 
astical  council  called  to  consider  charges  against  him  by  some 
of  his  people,  although  the  charges  were  not  proved,  and  he 
was  sustained  by  the  council,  still  I  became  convinced  that 
he  was  greatly  deficient  in  the  qualities  of  a  good  pastor,  and 
it  was  not  long  before  he  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request. 
He  was  no  doubt  a  firm  friend  to  the  new  enterprise,  and 
labored  hard  to  help  it  forward. 

DR.  ELY. 

Another  early  and  long  tried  supporter  of  the  College  was 
the  Rev.  Alfred  Ely,  D.  D.  His  name  does  not  appear 
among  the  Trustees  till  1825,  nor  can  I  say  whether  he  was 
among  the  very  earliest  pioneers  in  this  work.  But  after  that 
for  twenty-nine  years,  till  he  resigned  on  account  of  the 
infirmities  of  age,  I  know  that  he  was  a  steadfast  and  efficient 
friend  of  the  College.  He  was  one  of  those  men  whom  we 
always  expected  to  see  at  our  anniversaries  and  other  public 
occasions,  and  whose  presence  and  countenance  always  gave 


22  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

us  new  courage,  for  we  felt  confident  that  God  would  sustain 
an  institution  for  which  such  men  would  honestly  and  ardently 
labor  and  pray. 

DR.  WAYLAND. 

The  name  of  President  Wayland  appears  among  the  Trus 
tees  for  five  years.  But  how  much  interest  he  took  in  the 
enterprise  I  am  unable  to  say.  That  of  Rev.  Dr.  Jonathan 
Going,  another  Baptist  clergyman,  was  on  the  catalogue  from 
1823  to  1831,  but  although  I  saw  him  at  the  annual  meetings, 
I  have  no  facts  to  state  as  to  his  particular  efforts.  I  pass  by 
that  of  Dr.  Joseph  Lyman,  a  Trustee  for  three  years,  for  the 
same  reason ;  also  that  of  Dr.  John  Brown,  for  seven  years 
among  the  Trustees ;  also  that  of  Dr.  John  Nelson,  who  was  a 
Trustee  nine  years.  I  wish  I  could  say  more  than  I  am  able 
respecting  Rev.  Experience  Porter,  who  was  a  Trustee  from 
1821  to  1825,  and  whom  I  recollect  as  a  man  of  strong  mind 
and  decided  character,  who  would  throw  all  his  energies  into 
any  cause  he  espoused.  He  must  have  taken  a  prominent 
part  in  this  enterprise,  or  he  would  not  have  been  selected  as 
one  of  the  first  Trustees.  My  impression  is  that  he  died  not 
long  after  1825. 

OTHER    CLERICAL    FRIENDS. 

"Were  I  to  attempt  to  give  outlines  of  the  life  and  character 
of  the  other  clerical  gentlemen  whose  names  appear  among 
the  Trustees,  or  even  of  their  specific  services  in  behalf  of  the 
College,  the  brief  limits  which  I  have  prescribed  to  myself  in 
these  biographical  sketches  would  be  exceeded.  Besides,  so 
noiselessly,  and  as  it  were  naturally,  have  they  promoted  the 
interest  of  the  College,  that  it  seems  a  matter  of  course,  and  it 
would  not  be  easy  to  collect  the  details  together.  I  refer  to 
Prof.  B.  B.  EDWARDS,  elected  in  1848 ;  Dr.  J.  S.  CLARK,  in 
1852  ;  Dr.  W.  P.  PAINE,  in  1854  ;  Dr.  J.  LEAVITT  and  Rev. 
E.  S.  DWIGIIT,  in  1855  ;  and  to  Dr.  L.  SABIN,  in  1862.  Two 
of  them  are  deceased,  and  of  them  I  would  say  a  few  words. 


EDWARDS   AND   CLARK.  23 

I  refer  to  Prof.  Edwards  and  Dr.  Clark.  Both  of  them 
were  distinguished  in  the  numerous  relations  they  sustained 
to  our  literary,  benevolent  and  religious  institutions,  for  their 
freedom  from  all  extravagance  and  excess  in  their  plans  and 
opinions,  and  for  the  soundness  of  their  judgments, — in  other 
words,  for  practical  wisdom.  They  were  also  distinguished 
for  their  enlarged  and  liberal  views,  and  for  their  charity 
towards  all  mankind.  Hence  they  showed  such  a  kindness  in 
their  address,  and  such  a  readiness  to  help  every  good  cause, 
that  their  aid  seemed  almost  indispensable  to  every  important 
literary  or  benevolent  enterprise.  Probably  no  Trustee  of  the 
College  found  so  many  calls  upon  his  services  by  the  friends  and 
authorities  of  the  College  as  Dr.  Clark,  and  to  no  other  man 
did  individuals  resort  for  advice  and  sympathy  so  frequently. 

In  another  place  I  shall  state  the  important  part  taken  by 
Prof.  Edwards  in  the  matter  of  a  library.  I  would  here  only 
refer  to  a  feature  of  his  character  which  I  have  always 
regarded  as  an  index  of  the  true  nobility  of  his  nature,  and 
the  generous  liberality  of  his  views.  It  is  well  known  that 
his  forte  was  polite  and  sacred  literature,  and  that  he  did  not 
make  pretensions  to  any  thing  more  than  a  general  acquain 
tance  with  science.  Yet  in  those  branches  of  science  with 
which  I  am  acquainted,  I  know  that  he  kept  well  posted  and 
rejoiced  in  their  progress.  He  rose  above  the  narrow  view 
that  there  is  an  antagonism  between  science  and  literature,  so 
that  as  he  had  given  himself  mostly  to  the  latter,  he  must  look 
with  a  jealous  eye  upon  the  former.  With  the  missionary, 
Rev.  Dr.  Perkins,  he  believed  that  "  it  is  the  combined  light 
of  all  truth,  scientific  as  well  as  religious,  that  is  to  render  so 
perfect  and  glorious  the  splendor  of  the  millenial  day,"  and 
moreover  that  literature  and  science  are  mutually  dependent, 
and  you  cannot  depress  the  one  without  sinking  the  other 
also.  These  enlarged  views  are  so  finely  exhibited  by  Prof. 
Edwards,  in  a  letter  addressed  by  him  to  me  on  the  occasion 
of  the  dedication  of  the  new  Cabinet  and  Observatory  in  1848, 


24  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

and  moreover  present  so  interesting  a  phase  of  the  subject, 
that  I  cannot  withhold  it : — 

"ANDOVER,  June  26,  1848. 
"  Rev.  President  HITCHCOCK  : 

"Dear  Sir, — It  is  with  sincere  regret  that  I  must  decline  your  kind 
invitation  to  be  present  on  Wednesday.  Indispensable  engagements 
will  detain  me  here.  In  common  with  multitudes  I  rejoice  that  you 
have  been  so  favored  in  the  Providence  of  God  as  to  finish  your 
edifice  and  fill  it  with  such  inestimable  treasures.  Nothing  could 
be  more  appropriate  than  such  a  collection  in  the  Connecticut  Valley, 
so  full  of  beauty,  so  crowded  with  visible  and  tangible  proof  of 
Divine  wisdom,  where  the  natural  sciences  can  be  studied  under  such 
preeminent  advantages.  I  rejoice,  also,  from  my  belief  that  these 
studies  are  specially  fitted  to  liberalize  the  mind  and  bind  together 
the  scholars  of  our  country  and  of  all  nations.  No  persons  in 
England, — where  illiberal  feelings  towards  us  have  too  much  pre 
vailed, — have  done  more  to  cement  the  two  countries  together  than 
the  students  of  natural  science.  None  there  feel  or  express  for  us 
more  generous  and  ennobling  sentiments  than  some  of  the  leading 
members  of  the  Royal  and  the  Geological  Societies.  One  of 
them,  before  he  showed  me  the  wonders  of  science  which  adorn  his 
dwelling,  pointed  out  what  was  particularly  precious  to  him, — an 
admirable  portrait  of  Prof.  Silliman.  The  president  of  the  Geologi 
cal  Society  said  in  my  hearing,  that  he  honored  the  city  of  Boston, — 
that  it  was  doing  more  for  the  cause  of  popular  education  than  all 
England.  A  third  individual,  who  had  travelled  many  years  in  the 
East,  remarked  to  me,  that  no  men  were  more  respected  for  their 
knowledge  and  gentlemanly  character  than  American  missionaries. 
The  principal  jxaper  read  before  the  Hoyal  Society  in  the  evening 
when  I  was  present,  was  written  by  an  American  physician  on  the 
coast  of  Africa. 

"  Any  thing  which  removes  a  prejudice,  or  promotes  a  kindly  feeling 
between  us  and  our  parent  State,  is  a  matter  for  heartfelt  gratitude. 
England,  with  all  her  faults,  is  a  noble  land.  No  where  is  there  so 
much  moral  worth,  such  attractive  specimens  of  social  and  Christian 
character,  so  much  that  adorns  humanity.  With  England  and  the 
United  States  are  bound  up  to  a  great  degree  the  hopes  of  the  world. 
Long  may  the  scholars  of  the  two  countries  love  and  labor  like 
brethren.  Rich  and  boundless  fields  of  knowledge  .are  still  open 
before  them  all. 


DR.    HUMPHREY.  25 

"  Again  expressing  my  sorrow  that  I  cannot  be  with  you  on  Wednes 
day,  and  hoping  that  every  auspicious  circumstance  may  combine  to 
render  the  day  pleasant  and  the  occasion  interesting, 
"I  am  yours,  very  faithfully, 

"B.  B.  EDWARDS." 

DR.  HUMPHREY. 

To  attempt  to  give  the  details  of  Dr.  Humphrey's  life 
would  be  to  write  a  volume.  I  shall  give  only  the  leading 
facts  of  his  history  as  they  are  condensed  in  a  sermon  which 
I  preached  in  the  College  chapel  soon  after  his  death,  entitled, 
Tlie  Moral  Sublimity  of  a  Completed  Christian  Life. 

Dr.  Heman  Humphrey's  birthplace,  March  20th,  1779,  was  West 
Simsbury,  in  Connecticut.  From  thence  his  father,  Solomon  Hum 
phrey,  removed  to  Burlington  in  the  same  State,  when  Heman 
was  six  years  old.  His  hopeful  conversion  occurred  in  the  winter 
of  1798-9,  when  he  was  twenty  years  old.  He  was  then  a  laborer 
on  the  farm,  often  as  a  hired  man ;  yet  he  was  for  several  years  a 
teacher,  but  did  not  think  of  a  public  education  till  some  years  after 
his  conversion.  Having  engaged  his  services  to  a  farmer  who  lived 
on  the  opposite  side  of  a  river,  a  spring  freshet  prevented  his  going 
over  for  some  time,  and  the  delay  turned  his  thoughts  towards 
college.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1805,  in  a  class  of  forty- 
two,  among  whom  were  Dr.  Gardiner  Spring,  of  New  York,  still 
living,  and  the  late  Mr.  Gaulladet,  of  Hartford.  He  studied  theology 
with  Rev.  Asahel  Hooker,  of  Goshen,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  by 
the  Litchfield  Congregational  Association  in  October,  1806.  March 
IGth,  1807,  he  was  settled  in  Fairfield  over  the  Congregational 
church,  where  he  remained  ten  years,  and  was  permitted  to  see  one 
powerful  revival.  He  was  installed  over  the  church  in  Pittsfield,  in 
November,  1817,  where  he  remained  six  years,  and  witnessed  two 
revivals  of  extraordinary  power.  In  1823  he  was  transferred  to 
Amherst  College  as  its  President,  where  he  remained  twenty-two 
years,  and  saw  seven  marked  revivals  of  religion.  Since  1845  he 
has  passed  a  retired  but  not  inactive  life  among  the  beloved  people 
whom  he  left  more  than  twenty  years  before.  And  on  the  3d  day 
of  April,  1861,  he  was  called  to  enter  a  higher  and  broader  sphero 
of  labor  in  the  immediate  presence  of  God. 

Men  naturally  inquire  in  respect  to  distinguished  characters,  what 
was  the  amount  of  their  native  talent,  and  of  their  literary  attain- 
2 


26  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

ments.  Dr.  Humphrey,  in  giving  the  character  of  his  intimate 
friend,  Dr.  Nettleton,  has  said  just  what  I  should  say  of  him  on 
these  points  :  "  In  my  estimation,"  he  says,  "  Dr.  Nettleton  was  a 
great  man — not  great  merely  as  he  was  good,  but  great  in  the  com 
mon  meaning  of  the  term.  He  was  not  a  learned  man.  His  Master 
never  gave  him  time  to  distinguish  himself  as  a  scholar.  He  had 
too  much  work  for  him  to  do  in  his  vineyard  to  allow  it.  Though 
he  had  a  good,  substantial  public  education,  Dr.  Nettleton  made  no 
pretensions  to  high  attainments  in  classical  literature,  or  in  any 
of  the  abstruse  sciences.  In  the  latter  he  might  have  excelled,  had 
not  his  soul  been  fired  with  higher  and  holier  aims." — Memoir  of 
Nettleton,  p.  363. 

But  though  this  estimate  of  Dr.  Humphrey's  literary  standing  may 
be  essentially  true,  it  is  also  true,  that  the  writings  of  very  few 
Christian  authors  in  our  land  are  more  generally  known,  or  more 
highly  appreciated,  or  more  influential,  than  his.  How  shall  this  be 
explained  ?  Chiefly  by  the  marks  of  sound  wisdom  and  Christian 
fidelity  and  earnestness  which  so  characterize  them  all,  and  they  are 
also  full  of  vivacity  and  strong  emotion.  We  see  that  the  senti 
ments  come  from  a  clear  head,  and  a  warm  heart.  Moreover,  they 
are  based  upon  common  sense,  and  commend  themselves  to  every 
man's  judgment  as  a  safe  guide.  His  writings  are  quite  voluminous ; 
not  so  many  set  treatises,  indeed,  say  nine  or  ten,  but  an  almost 
endless  number  of  short  articles  in  our  periodicals  or  religious 
newspapers,  or  in  occasional  sermons  and  addresses.  For  this  kind 
of  writing  he  had  unusual  qualifications,  such  as  sound,  sterling 
sense,  ready  wit,  Christian  kindness,  and  a  vigorous  Saxon  style. 
Of  course  he  has  had  large  audiences ;  yet  probably  not  one  of 
his  hearers  or  readers  ever  received  an  impression  from  him 
unfavorable  to  religion,  morality,  sound  learning,  good  manners, 
patriotism,  or  charity.  This  is  saying  a  great  deal ;  and  it  must 
have  formed  a  soft  pillow  for  his  head  as  he  lay  down  to  die. 

Another  very  important  inquiry  we  raise  about  men,  is,  what 
are  their  religious  sentiments  ?  Here,  too,  in  describing  those  of 
Dr.  Nettleton,  I  think  Dr.  Humphrey  has  given  his  own.  "  In  his 
theology  Dr.  Nettleton  was  neither  '  a  high  nor  a  low '  Calvinist. 
While  he  admired  the  illustrious  Genevan  reformer,  and  subscribed, 
ex  animo,  to  all  the  leading  doctrines  of  his  immortal  Institutes,  he 
called  neither  Calvin  nor  any  other  man  master.  He  was  an 
Edwardean  rather  than  a  high  Calvinist ;  and  yet  profound  as  his 
veneration  was  for  '  that  greatest  of  theologians,'  as  Dr.  Chalmers 
styles  President  Edwards,  he  thought  it  his  duty  to  investigate  every 


DR.   HUMPHREY.  27 

subject,  for  himself.  With  his  little  duodecimo  Bible,  or  his  Greek 
Testament,  always  in  his  hands,  he  was  one  of  the  most  independent 
thinkers  that  I  have  ever  known.  Upon  the  foundation  of  the 
apostles  and  prophets,  Jesus  Christ  himself  being  the  chief  corner 
stone,  he  stood  like  a  pillar  upon  the  everlasting  rock." 

It  was,  as  we  think,  Dr.  Humphrey's  strong  practical  wisdom, 
under  the  control  of  firm  Christian  principle,  that  formed  the  chief 
element  of  his  greatness,  and  the  secret  of  his  wide  spread  reputa 
tion.  His  long  life  gave  an  opportunity  for  testing  this  wisdom  in 
so  many  circumstances,  and  with  such  success,  that  in  all  parts 
of  our  land,  and  even  in  the  fatherland,  the  highest  respect  was 
entertained  for  his  opinions,  and  the  strongest  confidence  in  his 
judgment.  So  that  probably  in  almost  any  assembly  in  our  land, 
had  another  Aeschylus  said,  O?  yap  SOKCIV  MKCLIOS,  aW  civat  Qlht,  &c., 
(he  was  more  anxious  to  be  righteous  than  to  seem  so,)  all  eyes 
would  have  been  turned  upon  Dr.  Humphrey,  as  they  were  upon 
Aristides. 

It  is  interesting  to  look  at  the  path  marked  out  for  Dr.  Humphrey 
by  Providence,  and  to  see  how  each  successive  stage  was  wisely 
adapted  to  prepare  him  for  those  that  followed.  We  can  see  many 
good  reasons  why  his  lot  was  cast  in  early  life  among  the  poor,  and 
why  he  came  so  late  into  public  life.  One  was,  that  he  might  have 
that  thorough  physical  training  on  the  farm,  which  should  give  him 
a  constitution  that  could  go  through  with  a  twenty  years'  conflict  in 
the  establishment  of  this  institution,  without  breaking  down.  Another 
was,  to  teach  him  how  to  exercise  that  rigid  economy  which  he 
found  indispensable  in  the  same  work.  A  third  was,  that  he  might 
know  how  to  sympathize  with,  and  assist,  the  numerous  young  men 
originating  from  the  same  straitened  circumstances,  who  would  here 
pass  under  his  charge.  Of  the  seven  hundred  and  ninety-five  who 
graduated  during  his  presidency,  by  far  the  largest  part  were  of  this 
description,  and  experienced  his  fostering  and  guiding  influence. 

In  the  second  stage  of  his  course,  that  is  during  his  ministry  at 
Fairfield  and  at  Pittsfield,  we  can  see  some  things  of  the  same  antici- 
pative  charater.  One  was,  that  God  gave  him,  as  a  bosom  friend, 
the  man  most  honored  of  God  of  all  others  in  our  land  as  an  instru 
ment  of  revivals,  and  most  wise  in  their  management, — I  mean  Dr. 
Nettleton, — and  then  God  permitted  him  to  witness  in  his  own 
church,  several  of  the  most  remarkable  displays  of  converting  grace 
known  in  the  annals  of  the  country.  Do  we  not  see  the  reason  why 
such  wise  instruction  and  such  rich  experience  on  this  subject  were 
given  him,  when  the  history  of  his  administration  here  tells  us  that 


28  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMIIERST   COLLEGE. 

ho  was  allowed  to  witness  seven  revivals  ?  And  how  important  it 
was  that  these  should  be  wisely  conducted,  we  learn,  when  we  find 
that  of  the  seven  hundred  and  ninety-five  graduates  during  his 
presidency,  four  hundred  and  thirty  became  ministers  of  the  Gospel ; 
eighty-four  of  whom  were  settled  in  Massachusetts,  and  thirty-nine 
became  foreign  missionaries.  How  important  that  these  should 
receive  correct  instruction  as  to  the  treatment  of  perhaps  a  thousand" 
revivals  which  they  have  since  witnessed. 

Another  fact  should  be  mentioned  in  this  connection.  Dr. 
Humphrey  was  among  the  very  first  in  our  land  to  move  in  the  tem 
perance  reformation.  As  early  as  1810  he  preached  ten  sermons  on 
the  subject,  and  in  1812  he  wrote  an  address  to  the  churches  advo 
cating  pledged  abstinence  from  spirits,  and  it  was  published  by  the 
ministerial  association  to  which  he  belonged.  How  important  that 
he  should  thus  early  enlist  in  this  cause,  when  only  a  few  years  after 
he  was  to  be  placed  at  the  head  of  a  community  which  above  all  others 
needs  to  be  pledged  against  intoxicating  substances,  and  to  be  well 
drilled  soldiers  of  the  temperance  army. 

How  obvious  then  that  all  the  earlier  discipline  and  events  of 
Dr.  Humphrey's  life  pointed  significantly  to  his  last  and  greatest 
work  in  this  institution.  That  he  was  willing  to  leave  one  of  the 
most  delightful  villages  in  the  land,  in  spite  of  the  remonstrances  of 
a  large  and  affectionate  church,  and  enlist  in  a  cause  which  was  then 
unpopular,  and  which  if  ever  successful,  would  triumph  only  after  a 
long  and  bitter  conflict,  shows  how  ready  he  was  to  make  sacrifices, 
when  the  cause  of  religion  and  learning  demanded  it.  The  fact 
is,  and  it  ought  never  to  be  forgotten,  that  a  leading  object  in 
the  effort  to  establish  this  College  was,  to  counteract  the  influence 
of  certain  deadly  errors  in  religion,  which  were  undermining  and 
sweeping  away  the  ancient  landmarks.  Then  too,  local  prejudices 
and  the  competing  interests  and  jealousies  of  those  of  the  same 
faith,  were  roused  to  desperate  opposition.  But  Dr.  Humphrey,  with 
a  strong  bodily  constitution,  great  Christian  kindness,  yet  inflexible 
firmness,  and  armed  with  faith  and  prayer,  offered  himself  as  a 
champion  to  meet  this- Goliath.  Some  of  us  now  present,  who  were 
with  him  through  nearly  the  whole  of  the  long  struggle,  can  testify 
how  faithfully,  how  courageously,  how  patiently  and  perseveringly, 
he  stood  at  his  post.  The  truth  is,  God  was  on  our  side,  and  he  gave 
us  this  token  of  it,  that  while  in  outward  and  material  interests 
we  were  straitened,  high  spiritual  prosperity  was  ours  ;  as  numerous 
revivals  and  the  large  proportion  of  graduates  who  devoted  them 
selves  to  the  ministry  and  to  missions  testified.  God  was  leading 


DR.   HUMPHREY.  29 

us ;  and  outward  trials  were  no  proof  to  the  contrary.  For,  as  a 
recent  remarkable  man  has  declared,  "  God's  way  leads  always  into 
trial,  so  far  as  sight  and  sense  are  concerned.  Nature  always  will 
be  tried  in  God's  ways." — Mullefs  Life  of  Trust,  p.  214. 

It  has  been  many  years  since  Dr.  Humphrey  left  the  more  active 
scenes  of  public  professional  life,  and  took  up  his  residence  among 
the  people  of  his  former  charge,  who  have  cherished  him  as  a 
precious  treasure,  and  confided  in  him  as  a  father.  But  his  has  not 
been  an  idle  life,  as  several  volumes,  and  almost  innumerable 
smaller  effusions  of  his  pen  testify.  His  bodily  powers,  and  mental 
vigor  especially,  have  held  out  very  remarkably.  Of  this  we  have 
a  striking  proof  in  a  sermon  on  the  present  disastrous  condition 
of  our  country,  delivered  by  him  no  longer  ago  than  our  late 
National  Fast,  January  4th,  1861.  It  is  said  that  its  delivery  indi 
cated  the  vigor  of  early  life;  and  as  a  literary  production,  it  is 
certainly  a  remarkable  effusion  for  a  man  over  fourscore  years  old. 
On  questions  relating  to  slavery,  he  has  always  been  regarded  as 
conservative ;  but  when  he  saw  it  rending  asunder  this  fair  Union, 
it  roused  into  intense  action  the  whole  soul  of  the  Christian  and  the 
patriot.  "And  now,"  says  he,  "when  instigated  by  the  demon 
slavery,  traitors  are  plotting  for  the  overthrow  of  the  Government, 
may  I  not  speak  what  I  think  in  this  presence?  I  shall  not  be 
hindered.  My  heart  is  full  of  the  matter.  Every  drop  of  my  old 
blood  is  quickened."  The  torrent  of  argument  and  feeling,  of 
rebuke  and  expostulation  which  followed,  will  bear  comparison  as 
to  eloquence  and  power,  with  any  which  this  painful  subject  has 
elicited  from  the  pulpit,  the  forum,  or  the  press. 

Tell  me  now,  my  friends,  is  not  here  a  noble  example  of  a  com 
pleted  Christian  life  ?  See  this  venerable  man,  long  an  inhabitant 
of  the  land  of  Beulah,  and  now  drawing  near  the  banks  of  Jordan, 
ascending  that  same  mount  of  glory  where  Paul  stood,  when  he 
was  ready  to  be  offered.  He  could  look  back  upon  sixty  years  of 
faithful  service  since  first  he  professed  religion ;  and  with  not  one 
dark  stain  upon  the  picture  of  a  life  consecrated  to  the  cause  of 
Christ  and  of  learning.  Yet  how  many  monuments  of  success  and 
of  God's  blessing  rise  up  on  the  long  pathway,  not  to  foster  pride, 
but  to  awaken  gratitude.  And  then  turning  towards  the  celestial 
city,  what  glories  come  pouring  in  from  the  Sun  of  Righteousness, 
which  is  its  light !  Tell  me,  ye  Christian  young  men  before  me, 
whether  here  is  not  a  scene  of  moral  sublimity  more  worthy  of  your 
aspirations  than  any  which  worldly  ambition  can  offer  ? 


80  REMINISCENCES  OF  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

Dr.  Humphrey  preceded  me  two  years  in  his  connection 
with  the  College.  Professor  N.  W.  Fiske  came  one  year 
earlier  than  I  did.  Professor  S.  M.  Worcester  also  joined  as 
Tutor  at  the  same  time  with  Dr.  Humphrey,  and  was  made 
Professor  in  1825.  In  the  same  year  Rev.  Solomon  Peck 
was  made  Professor  of  Latin,  which  post  he  occupied  seven 
years.  He  was  an  able  and  faithful  teacher,  and  cordially  pro 
moted  the  great  object  of  the  institution.  He  was  afterwards 
very  useful  as  Secretary  of  the  Baptist  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions.  But  within  a  few  years,  as  I  understand  the  matter, 
he  has  been  rather  unceremoniously  dropped  from  that  office. 

PROFESSOR  SAMUEL  M.  WORCESTER. 
Professor  Worcester  remained  connected  with  the  College 
nine  years  after  I  joined  it,  and  I  always  regarded  him  as 
well  adapted  to  his  place ;  always  genial  and  gentlemanly  in 
his  feelings,  frank  and  unsuspicious,  and  though  sometimes 
discursive  in  his  public  performances,  never  wanting  in  appro 
priate  words;  decided  in  his  principles  and  piety,  and  cor 
dially  attached  to  the  objects  of  the  institution.  Since  leaving 
Amherst,  as  is  well  known,  he  has  faithfully  sustained  the 
duties  of  the  ministry  in  Salem,  and  still  lives  to  do  good. 
For  many  years  he  has  experienced  severe  domestic  afflic 
tions,  such  as  a  miracle  alone  can  remove;  but  he  has  borne 
them  with  true  Christian  fortitude. 

PROFESSOR   NATHAN   W.  FISKE. 

I  shall  make  no  attempt  to  delineate  the  character  of  Pro 
fessor  Fiske,  since  it  has  already  been  done  by  Dr.  Humphrey. 
His  mind  and  scholarship  were  of  a  high  order.  He  was 
most  remarkable  for  acuteness  of  intellect,  though  capable  of 
grasping  great  plans  and  principles ;  but  when  once  he  got 
started  in  pursuit  of  a  truth,  he  would  track  it  to  its  hiding 
place,  though  he  had  to  go  through  a  Cretari  labyrinth.  He 
was  a  diligent  student,  and  not  well  fitted  to  come  in  contact 
with  men  in  the  rough  and  tumble  of  life.  He  seemed  to 


PROFESSOR    FISKE.  31 

want  what  scholars  are  so  apt  to  want — a  knowledge  of  com 
mon  things,  so  that  when  they  mix  with  men  they  do  things, 
which  though  not  wrong,  are  odd,  and  are  laughed  at.  They 
shrink  away  from  the  world  and  live  in  a  sort  of  seclusion. 

Professor  Fiske  had  a  remarkably  ready  and  keen  wit, 
which  was  sometimes  so  keen  that  it  wounded  deeper  than 
he  intended.  His  power  of  description  was  almost  une 
qualled.  I  will  give  two  examples,  where  wit  and  graphic 
description  are  combined. 

In  his  journeyings  through  Syria  and  Palestine,  where  he 
died,  he  turned  his  attention  to  collecting  geological  specimens 
for  our  Missionary  Collection,  and  with  much  success,  as  the 
shelves  of  our  cabinet  testify.  In  a  letter  written  after 
putting  up  a  box  of  these  specimens,  I  find  the  following 
amusing  remarks : — 

"The  noise  of  breaking  this  specimen,"  says  he,  "  as  I  was  but  a 
few  feet  from  the  door  of  the  house,  brought  out  an  old  woman,  in  a 
filthy  Arab  dress.  She  drew  her  Mandil  (mantle)  down  over  her 
forehead,  holding  it  with  her  left  hand  under  her  chin,  leaving  her 
right  hand  free  for  gestures,  and  her  lips  at  liberty  for  speech,  and 
with  a  little  fierce  looking  black  eye,  and  sallow,  shrivelled  face,  she 
came  at  me  with  a  tremendous  volley  of  Arabic,  in  a  shrill  screech, 
frightful  enough  to  make  one's  hair  stand  on  end.  Not  a  word  could 
I  understand  ;  only  I  used  my  Yankee  faculty  of  guessing  that  she 
was  scolding  the  impudent  and  thieving  Frank ;  and  that  if  I  did 
not  somehow  silence  her  noise,  the  whole  neighborhood  would  be 
roused,  and  what  woes  might  then  betide  me,  not  even  a  Yankee 
could  guess.  I  had  no  Arabic  to  explain,  or  apologize,  or  entreat : 
but  for  my  good  luck,  I  had  that  very  morning  learned  Arabic 
enough  to  say,  Shoo-hi-dah,  what  is  that  ?  and  this  was  the  whole 
length  and  breadth  of  my  vocabulary.  So  I  put  my  right  hand,  first 
on  my  breast,  then  to  my  forehead,  (the  Arabic  mode  of  salutation,) 
and  with  a  smile  and  tone  as  gracious  as  I  could  make,  held  out  my 
specimen,  and  pointing  to  one  of  the  little  shells  in  it,  said,  '  Shoo- 
hi-dah  ?  Shoo-hi-dah  ? '  She  raised  her  eye-brows,  relaxed  a  little 
her  grasp  of  the  Mandil,  and  looked  at  the  shell,  and  cried,  Allah, 
Allah,  hi-dah  bwak.  O  God,  God,  that  is  Iwak :  then  resumed  her 
furious  scolding  and  yelling.  I  carefully  laid  down  the  stone  on  a 
block,  and  picking  up  a  little  pebble,  held  it  out  and  said,  Shoo-hi- 


32  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

dah,  $c.,  ftc.,  and  thus  finally  calmed  her  down,  and  made  my  escape. 
Had  I  known  Katyr  Khyr  ak,  I  certainly  should  have  closed  with  it. 

"A  day  or  two  after,  I  walked  through  the  same  yard,  and  found 
my  specimen  lying  where  I  laid  it  down,  and  then  I  quietly  put  it  in 
my  pocket. 

"In  this  trip,  (from  Beyroot  to  Abeih  and  Bhamdun,)  I  have 
gathered  oysters  and  clams,  and  I  cannot  tell  what  other  fish, 
cooked,  (you  perhaps  know  when,)  in  old  Pluto's  or  Vulcan's 
kitchen,  and  pickled  down  (or  rather  up,  for  I  found  some  of  them 
on  summits  thousands  of  feet  high,)  and  preserved  by  the  help 
of  Neptune,  and  for  aught  I  know  the  mermaids  too  :  for  all  which, 
the  geologists  will  thank  them ;  more  grateful,  I  imagine,  than  the 
poor  donkeys,  whose  burdens  are  often  increased  by  not  a  few 
pounds'  weight  of  these  ante-mundane  delicacies.  At  Abeih,  I 
boxed  for  you,  what  a  Carolinian  would  call  a  '  mighty  liy '  lump, 
weighing  less  than  a  ton.  It  will  doubtless  prove  a  Jactalite,  (a 
rock  to  be  thrown  away)  should  it  ever  reach  you.  All  I  shall  ask 
of  you,  provided  it  thus  terminate,  is,  that  you  will  bestow  on  the 
innocent  fishes  a  decent  burial  beneath  the  turf." 

In  this  same  collection  one  notices  with  melancholy  interest 
several  specimens  from  Mount  Zion,  obtained  by  Professor 
Fiske  only  a  few  weeks  before  he  himself  was  laid  there  in 
the  Protestant  burying  ground  near  the  tomb  of  David.  The 
fact  is,  his  constitution  was  too  much  enfeebled  before  he  left 
home,  to  endure  the  heat  and  miasms  of  the  climate  in  Syria 
and  Palestine  and  the  exposures  of  travelling.  His  friends 
had  tried  in  vain  to  draw  hini  out  of  his  study  at  an  earlier 
date,  nor  did  he  go  till  his  symptoms  admonished  him  that 
without  amendment  he  must  soon  sink.  He  seems  to  have 
been  fully  prepared  for  the  summons.  His  views  of  religious 
truth  had  always  been  remarkably  clear,  and  his  life  consist 
ent,  and  many  a  conscience  testified  to  his  unusual  power  in 
the  lecture  room  and  the  pulpit,  as  do  also  his  published 
discourses.  That  faith  held  out  to  the  last,  and  even  when 
through  weakness  the  mind  was  scarcely  able  to  maintain  its 
balance,  we  can  see  that  faith  was  triumphant,  as  the  following 
letter  dictated  by  him  just  at  the  close  of  life  will  show : — 


FISKE  AND   ABBOT.  33 

"JERUSALEM,  May  18,  1847. 
"Rev.  EDWARD  HITCHCOCK,  D.  D.,  President  of  Amherst  College. 

"To  you,  my  dear  friend  and  brother,  and  head  of  our  beloved 
colleagues  in  instruction,  and  President  of  the  Trustees,  I  was 
expecting  to  address  a  letter  from  Beyroot,  hoping,  on  or  before  my 
arrival  there,  to  meet  letters  from  Amherst,  and  from  my  friends  in 
America,  helping  me  to  decide  the  path  of  duty,  as  to  the  remaining 
months  of  this  summer.  But  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  is 
distinctly  telling  me  that  I  have  nothing  more  to  do  with  earthly  plans. 
I  am  prostrated  under  the  disease  called  dysentery,  which  has 
hitherto  baffled  all  attempts  to-arrest  it.  I  am,  by  a  kind  Providence, 
in  the  family  of  Doctor  McGowan,  the  eminently  skilful  physician 
connected  with  the  English  mission  in  this  place,  and  besides  having 
the  best  medical  attention,  I  have  the  cheering  presence  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Whiting,  as  nurse  and  Christian  friend.  My  time  and  strength 
compel  that  other  circumstances  should  be  learned  from  another 
person.  My  support  in  this  trying  hour  is  drawn  solely,  I  trust, 
from  the  great  and  precious  promises,  connected  with  those  peculiar 
doctrines  of  the  Cross,  which  you  and  I  have  long  professed  to  love. 
My  hcpe  of  salvation  rests  on  the  merits  and  grace  of  Him  who 
suffered  in  Gethsemane  and  on  Calvary,  for  lost  sinners.  I  lean  upon 
them  as  the  Lord  my  strength,  and  the  Lord  my  righteousness — all 
my  salvation  and  all  my  desire.  Worthless  and  guiltly  as  I  am,  I 
feel  that  He  will  not  forsake  me,  but  carry  me  safely  through  the 
great  conflict.  To  you  and  the  dear  brethren,  I  have  many  words 
to  say,  but  cannot  utter  them." 

PROFESSOR  ABBOT. 

Jacob  Abbot  was  appointed  Tutor  in  1824,  and  Professor 
of  Mathematics  in  1825.  He  remained  till  1829,  when  he 
resigned  to  engage  in  what  has  since  been  his  life  work,  tho 
writing  of  books  for  the  young,  which  have  become  well  known 
and  highly  useful  all  over  Christendom.  He  had  a  remark 
able  power  of  interesting  children,  and  delighted  in  gamboling 
with  them.  He  had  a  good  deal  of  mechanical  ingenuity,  and 
succeeded  well  in  experiments  in  Natural  Philosophy.  But 
he  evidently  thought  that  such  a  work,  in  a  new  and  poorly 
furnished  institution,  whose  ultimate  success  did  at  that  time 
seem  doubtful,  was  not  the  sphere  marked  out  for  him  by 


34  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

Providence,  but  rather  the  more  important  work  in  which  he 
has  since  been  so  eminently  successful. 

PROFESSOR  HOVEY. 

To  Prof.  Abbot  succeeded  Sylvester  Hovey.  He  was  a  son 
of  Mrs.  Elisha  Billings,  of  Conway,  by  her  first  husband.  He 
was  educated  at  Yale,  where  he  took  the  first  appointment, 
became  afterwards  a  Tutor,  and  studied  for  the  ministry  there. 
He  then  became  Professor  of  Natural  Philosophy  in  Williams 
College,  from  whence  he  was  transferred  to  Amherst,  in  1829. 
He  was  a  man  of  extensive  erudition  and  of  enlarged  views ; 
of  kind  and  gentlemanly  demeanor,  and  of  consistent,  devoted 
piety.  But  he  had  no  great  mechanical  skill,  and  hence  did 
not  succeed  very  well  as  an  experimenter — certainly  compared 
with  his  successor,  who  was  then  an  Adjunct  Professor,  but 
took  no  part,  I  believe,  in  the  manipulations  of  the  lecture- 
room.  Prof.  Hovey's  chief  difficulty,  however,  was  a  wretched 
state  of  health.  Consumption  had  marked  him  as  its  victim, 
and  though  he  struggled  manfully  with  disease,  he  succumbed 
at  last,  and  continued  Professor  at  Amherst  only  four  years- 
His  amiable  and  accomplished  wife  went  before  him  with  the 
same  disease.  He  spent  one  year  in  Europe,  where  he  pur 
chased,  chiefly  of  Pixii,  of  Paris,  the  most  important  part  of 
our  Philosophical  Cabinet,  and  the  nucleus  of  our  Library. 
He  also  resided  one  winter  at  St.  Croix,  in  the  West  Indies, 
where  he  turned  his  attention  to  Natural  History,  and  made 
valuable  collections  in  conchology  and  geology.  These,  by 
his  will,  were  presented  to  Amherst  College.  The  concho- 
logical  collection  was  afterwards  merged  in  the  much  larger 
one  of  Professor  Adams,  to  satisfy  that  gentleman's  notions  of 
unity,  and  though  in  the  catalogue  due  credit  is  given,  I  doubt 
not,  to  all  specimens  donated  by  Prof.  Hovey,  yet  I  always 
considered  it  a  great  wrong  thus  to  destroy  the  individually 
of  a  collection  made  with  great  care  and  expense,  and  forming, 
as  in  this  case,  almost  the  only  memento  of  an  amiable  and 
accomplished  man  who  thus  testified  his  love  for  an  institution 


HOVEY  AND  SNELL.  35 

for  which  he  would  gladly  have  done  more.  The  geological 
part  of  his  donation  still  remains  entire,  although  increased  by 
some  other  gifts.  But  this  was  less  valuable  than  the  con- 
chological  collection.  I  do  not  suppose  that  Prof.  Adams 
intended  to  do  any  injustice  to  Prof.  Hovey ;  but  he  thought 
all  the  specimens  in  any  branch  of  natural  history  should 
belong  to  only  one  collection,  and  I  could  not  convince  him  to 
the  contrary.  For  convenience  and  unity  this  is  indeed  desir 
able.  But  when  collections  of  much  size  have  been  made, 
with  care  and  expense,  and  then  given — not  sold — to  a  col 
lege,  it  is  pleasant  to  successors  to  preserve  them  as  mementos, 
and  sometimes  it  would  be  little  short  of  sacrilege  to  break 
them  up.  So  it  would  be  regarded,  for  instance,  were  the 
collection  of  crystals,  in  the  Garden  of  Plants,  in  Paris,  made 
by  the  Abbe  Hauy,  to  be  distributed  among  the  other 
minerals  in  that  establishment. 

PROFESSOR  SNELL. 

Ebenezer  S.  Snell  was  appointed  Tutor  in  1825.  In  1829 
he  was  made  Adjunct  Professor  with  Prof.  Hovey.  I  believe 
he  devoted  himself  chiefly  to  mathematics  till  the  death  of 
Prof.  Hovey,  in  1833,  when  the  full  professorship  was  thrown 
upon  him,  and  from  that  time  to  the  present  he  has  continued 
its  honored  incumbent.  He  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas 
Snell,  of  Brookfield,  one  of  the  earliest  friends  and  supporters 
of  the  College,  though  being  for  several  years  a  trustee  of 
Williams  College,  he  was  never  appointed  a  trustee  at 
Amherst.  But  as  early  as  1821  he  was  made  one  of  the 
Overseers  of  the  Fund,  and  filled  that  office  till  1855.  He  has 
ever  been  a  most  faithful  and  efficient  friend  of  the  College. 
He  died  in  1862.  Prof.  Snell  had  three  traits  of  character 
which  eminently  fitted  him  to  take  this  post.  The  first  was  a 
habit  of  strict  fidelity  and  promptness  in  the  performance  of 
every  duty.  With  him  there  was  no  tardiness,  no  shrinking 
from  any  duty  which  it  was  in  his  power  to  perform — no 
shirking  of  responsibility  himself  nor  allowing  students  to  shirk. 


36  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

No  one  not  familiar  with  college  life  knows  how  important 
such  characteristics  are  in  the  officers.  However  fascinating 
and  splendid  a  man  may  be  in  his  public  performances,  if  he 
cannot  be  depended  upon  for  a  punctual  and  persevering  per 
formance  of  his  ordinary  and  most  minute  duties ;  if  on  any 
pretext  whatever  his  duties  are  left  for  others  to  perform,  he 
is  a  nuisance  to  the  College.  Professor  Snell's  example  has 
always  tended  to  keep  the  ship  at  Amherst  steadily  on  her 
way. 

Another  very  important  trait  was  his  remarkable  mechanical 
skill.  He  has  been  in  the  habit  of  constructing  a  considerable 
part  of  the  philosophical  apparatus  with  his  own  hands,  and 
the  best  judges  could  scarcely  distinguish  his  articles  from 
those  made  in  Paris,  London  or  Boston.  This  ability  has  been 
of  great  importance  in  an  institution  so  destitute  of  funds  as 
Amherst  College.  The  admirable  care  that  has  been  taken 
of  its  fine  Philosophical  Cabinet  is  due  to  the  same  superior 
skill.  It  contains  also  several  new  and  ingenious  instruments 
invented  by  the  Professor,  which  have  excited  much  interest 
among  scientific  men. 

I  might  mention  as  another  important  trait  his  strong 
experimental  conviction  of  the  truth  of  evangelical  religion, 
such  a  conviction  as  would  lead  him  to  be  willing  to  make 
great  personal  sacrifices  for  its  defence  and  promotion,  as  he 
must  do  if  permanently  connected  with  the  new  institution. 
He  was  willing  to  take  hold  of  this  as  a  life  work.  It  was 
easy  to  find  men  of  ability  who  would  do  very  well  for  a  time 
in  order  to  make  a  professorship  at  Amherst  a  stepping-stone 
to  some  more  attractive  post.  When  they  had  become  popular 
there,  they  would  listen  to  some  louder  call  made  Providential 
by  a  larger  salary  or  a  more  conspicuous  station,  and  without 
much  apparent  misgivings  they  could  leave  the  College  to 
endure  as  it  could  the  removal  of  a  popular  officer.  But  such 
were  not  Prof.  Snell's  views  of  duty,  and  for  thirty-eight  years 
to  this  date  (1863)  he  has  scarcely  been  absent  a  month  from 
his  post,  except  one  recent  trip  to  Europe.  It  is  such  men 


JONAS   KING.  37 

that  give  character  to  a  college,  especially  in  its  earlier  and 
feebler  days. 

REV.  JONAS  KING. 

The  name  of  Rev.  Jonas  King  appears  on  our  catalogue  as 
Professor  of  Oriental  Literature  from  1822  to  1828,  and 
doubtless,  without  some  explanation,  posterity  will  suppose 
that  gentleman  to  have  been  here  lecturing  and  giving 
instruction  in  Oriental  Literature.  But  in  fact,  except  on 
a  nying  visit,  he  did  not  reside  during  that  period  nearer  to 
Amherst  than  Athens,  in  Greece.  Among  the  founders  of 
the  College  were  some,  and  in  the  community  generally  there 
were  many,  who  supposed  that  one  of  the  most  effectual 
modes  of  converting  the  heathen  was  to  bring  some  of  their 
young  men  to  this  country  and  collect  them  in  seminaries, 
as  was  attempted  at  Cornwall,  in  Connecticut.  Another 
notion  was  that  young  men  going  as  missionaries,  say 
to  the  Orient,  had  better  learn  some  of  the  languages 
of  Asia  in  this  country.  One  of  the  Trustees  (S.  V.  S. 
Wilder,)  had  been  a  principal  means  of  sending  Mr.  King 
to  Greece,  and  it  was  thought  that  after  a  few  years'  residence 
there,  he  would  be  eminently  fitted  to  become  a  professor  in  a 
college  founded  expressly  for  the  purpose  of  educating  men  to 
be  ministers  and  missionaries.  Hence  his  name  was  continued 
so  long  upon  the  catalogue.  And  it  did  serve  like  a  national 
flag  to  designate  to  the  world  the  grand  object  of  the  institu 
tion,  and  though  the  notions  which  probably  led  to  the 
appointment  are  no  longer  considered  as  correct,  and  though 
Mr.  King  never  gave  any  instruction  in  the  College,  yet  it 
will  show  to  all  who  shall  hereafter  manage  the  affairs  of  the 
College,  how  prominent  was  the  missionary  enterprise  with 
the  founders  of  the  College,  and  whenever  that  object  is  lost 
sight  of,  or  thrown  into  a  subordinate  place,  then  are  the 
funds  and  cabinets  perverted  and  the  incumbents  liviug  by 
robbery. 


38  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

PROFESSOR  OLDS. 

Professor  Gamaliel  S.  Olds  left  the  same  year  in  which  I 
joined  the  College,  having  been  Professor  of  Mathematics  and 
Natural  Philosophy  four  years.  He  had  previously  been  in 
the  same  professorship  in  Williams  College  and  also  in 
Burlington,  Vermont,  and  he  was  likewise  settled  in  the 
ministry  in  Greenfield,  where  he  published  an  able  work  on 
Episcopacy.  He  was  undoubtedly  a  man  of  superior  talents 
and  acquirements,  though  I  think  rather  clumsy  as  an  experi 
menter.  But  he  was  one  of  that  sort  of  men  who  could  not 
work  comfortably  with  others.  He  afterwards  resided  in  Ohio 
and  lost  his  life  from  an  unruly  horse. 

PROFESSOR  ESTABROOK. 

With  Professor  Joseph  Estabrook  I  had  little  acquaint 
ance.  He  was  Preceptor  of  Amherst  Academy  when  the 
College  was  introduced,  and  being  of  respectable  talents  and 
scholarship, — a  graduate  of  Darmouth  College, — he  was 
appointed  with  the  title  Professor  of  Languages,  which  was 
changed  the  third  year  to  Professor  of  Greek  and  Latin  Lan 
guages.  I  know  not  why  he  left  at  the  end  of  the  third  year, 
but  he  did  so,  and  went  subsequently  to  Tennessee,  where  he 
became  President  of  East  Tennessee  University.  After  a 
successful  administration  of  several  years,  he  resigned,  and 
turned  his  attention  to  mining  operations,  in  which  I  have 
been  told  he  was  less  successful. 

It  will  be  seen  that  in  1825  the  number  of  professors  was 
considerably  increased,  and  most  of  them  labored  together  for 
quite  a  number  of  years,  four  of  us  (Humphrey,  Hitchcock, 
Fiske,  and  Snell,)  for  twenty  years,  and  two  of  us  (Hitchcock 
and  Snell,)  for  thirty-eight  years,  to  1863.  The  College  had 
now  got  under  full  headway  with  six  professors  and  one  tutor, 
and  one  hundred  and  fifty-two  students.  Previous  to  that  year 
the  six  tutors  employed  had  all  been  graduates  of  other 
colleges,  but  after  that  time  the  fifty-eight  (including  threo 


39 

instructors,)  have  all  been  graduates  of  Amherst  College. 
The  president  and  professors  in  1825  were  all  alumni 
of  other  colleges,  excepting  myself,  who  never  graduated  at 
any  college,  though  recipient  of  an  honorary  A.  M.  from 
Yale.  Dr. .  Humphrey  was  a  Yale  graduate.  Professor 
Fiske,  of  Dartmouth,  Professor  Peck,  of  Brown  University, 
Professor  Worcester,  of  Harvard,  and  Professor  Abbot, 
of  Bowdoin.  Tutor  Snell  alone  graduated  at  Amherst, 
in  1822. 

OTHER  PROFESSORS. 

The  names  of  several  other  gentlemen  appear  as  Professors 
upon  our  Triennial  whom  I  shall  pass  briefly  over,  not  because 
they  did  not  stand  high  as  instructors,  but  chiefly  because  they 
remained  here  only  a  few  years,  and  left  us  for  wider  fields 
of  usefulness.  In  other  spheres  they  have  risen  high  for  the 
most  part,  save  where  accident  and  death  cut  short  their 
career.  We  count  it  an  honor  that  we  can  reckon  them 
among  our  instructors,  and  we  well  remember  the  pang  it 
cost  us  and  the  heavy  blow  it  gave  the  College  when  they  felt 
it  to  be  their  duty  to  leave.  But  as  their  reputations  were 
chiefly  obtained  elsewhere,  it  does  not  fall  within  the  scope 
of  these  Reminiscences  to  go  into  much  detail  as  to  their 
history. 

Among  those  names  is  that  of  Professor  EDWARDS  A.  PARK, 
who  staid  with  us  only  about  a  year  and  was  in  feeble  health, 
but  who  showed  enough  of  intellectual  and  moral  power  to 
make  it  less  surprising  to  us  in  Amherst  to  see  him  since  take 
his  stand  at  the  head  of  American  theologians. 

Professor  HENRY  B.  SMITH  remained  with  us  three  years. 
In  him,  too,  we  saw  the  rapidly  developing  germ  which  has 
lifted  him  into  the  front  rank  among  the  scholars  and 
theologians  of  our  country. 

These  gentlemen  occupied  the  chair  of  Intellectual  and 
Moral  Philosophy.  It  was  subsequently  filled  by  Professor 
JOSEPH  HAVEN,  whose  character  as  a  teacher,  a  preacher  and 


40  REMINISCENCES   OP  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

an  author  here,  during  eight  years,  was  a  sure  precursor 
of  his  eminent  success  at  the  head  of  a  Theological  Seminary 
at  the  West. 

Rev.  JONATHAN  B.  CONDIT  has  several  times  changed  his 
position  from  pastor  to  professor  and  the  rever.se,  but  has 
always  had  distinguished  success  and  was  much  beloved,  as 
he  was  during  his  three  years  at  Amherst. 

Professor  WILLIAM  C.  FOWLER  came  here  from  Middle- 
bury,  where  he  had  been  Professor  of  Chemistry ;  but  here, 
for  five  years,  he  occupied  the  chair  of  Rhetoric  and  Oratory. 
Since  he  left  the  place  he  has  retired  from  professional  life. 

Rev.  THOMAS  P.  FIELD  filled  the  same  chair  for  three 
years  and  then  tore  himself  away  in  spite  of  strong  efforts  to 
retain  one  so  able  and  acceptable,  and  has  since  occupied  an 
important  place  as  pastor  of  a  church  in  New  London. 

Rev.  WILLIAM  A.  PEABODY,  a  graduate  of  Amherst, 
entered  upon  the  professorship  of  Latin  in  1849,  with  the 
fairest  prospects,  and  soon  secured  the  love  and  respect  of  all. 
But  alas,  within  one  year,  violent  disease  tore  him  from  us. 

The  same  office  was  ably  filled  for  four  years  by  Rev.  GEORGE 
B.  JEWETT,  also  a  graduate  of  the  College,  and  for  many  years 
a  successful  teacher  of  the  young  in  Lowell.  Professor  Jewett 
distinguished  himself  as  a  preacher,  and  felt  so  strong  a  love 
of  the  pastoral  office  that  he  left  us  and  was  settled  in 
Nashua,  New  Hampshire.  But  there  he  and  his  excellent 
wife  met  with  a  terrible  accident  in  crossing  a  railroad  track 
and  he  was  maimed  for  life.  He  still  lives,  however,  and 
struggles  manfully  with  his  calamities,  and  we  have  a  hope 
that  he  may  so  far  recover  as  to  do  much  yet  for  the  cause 
of  God  and  man. 

Professor  JOHN  W.  MALLET  was  a  young  man  from  Dub 
lin,  in  Ireland,  through  whose  University  he  passed,  and  then 
spent  years  in  the  German  Universities.  His  talents  and 
attainments  were  of  the  highest  order  in  almost  every  depart 
ment  of  science,  but  he  has  been  particularly  distinguished  in 
analytical  chemistry,  and  such  a  chair  was  created  for  him  in 


THE  PRESENT  FACULTY.  41 

Amherst.  But  there  was  not  enough  encouragement  to  retain 
him  here,  and  he  accepted  a  professorship  in  Alabama  Uni 
versity,  where  he  became  fixed  also  by  marriage,  and  whether 
he  can  ever  escape  from  the  clutches  of  secessionism  would 
seem  doubtful. 

Though  I  have  entered  into  some  detail  as  to  the  history 
and  characteristics  of  three  of  the  present  Faculty,  because 
they  have  been  so  long  connected  with  the  College,  I  shall  not 
make  the  same  attempt  in  respect  to  the  more  recent  members, 
because  it  has  not  been  my  intention,  save  in  the  way  of 
statistics,  to  give  my  impressions  of  the  present  college  officers. 
I  can  only  say  that  the  present  gratifying  condition  of  the 
institution  is  a  sufficient  testimony  to  the  ability  and  fidelity 
of  its  officers.  Of  Dr.  STEARNS  I  said  in  my  Valedictory 
Address,  "  How  peculiarly  gratifying  is  it,  as  I  leave  my  post, 
to  find  one  ready  to  assume  it,  in  whose  Christian  character, 
learning,  ministerial  ability  and  correct  judgment,  not  only 
myself,  but  the  trustees,  the  faculty  and  the  public  have  entire 
confidence."  I  now  have  the  gratification  of  repeating  this 
high  encomium  after  it  has  been  tested  by  years  of  trial. 

The  success  of  Prof.  W.  S.  CLARK  in  procuring  the  means 
for  the  erection  and  the  skill  displayed  in  the  construction  of 
the  new  Laboratory,  and  to  a  great  extent  the  Gymnasium, 
testify  to  his  great  energy  and  ability,  while  his  popularity  as 
a  lecturer  on  chemistry  shows  his  skill  in  controlling  the  minds 
of  men.  The  same  traits  along  with  distinguished  bravery 
have  shown  themselves  thus  far  in  his  military  career. 

The  present '  healthy  and  efficient  condition  of  the  difficult 
departments  of  Rhetoric  and  Oratory  shows  the  ability  and 
fidelity  of  its  accomplished  incumbent,  Prof.  J.  G.  VOSE.  He 
also  is  justly  and  highly  esteemed  as  an  able  and  popular 
preacher. 

The  same  remarks  will  apply  to  Dr.  J.  II.  SEELYE  and  his 
department  of  Intellectual  and  Moral  Philosophy,  as  well  as 
to  his  ability  and  success  as  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel.  The 


42  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

repeated  efforts  to  draw  him  away  from  Amherst  show  the 
high  appreciation  of  the  public  for  his  services. 

The  amiable  and  learned  gentleman,  Prof.  EDWARD  TUCK- 
ERMAN,  who  has  charge  of  Botany  and  History,  is  less  con 
cerned  in  giving  instruction  in  College  than  would  be  desirable; 
for  we  all  know  his  eminent  ability  and  especially  that  as  a 
lichenographist  he  takes  the  precedence  of  all  others  in  our 
country. 

As  to  the  younger  members  of  the  faculty,  the  Professor  of 
Latin,  E.  P.  CROWELL,  and  the  Assistant  Professor,  W.  L. 
MONTAGUE  ;  the  Assistant  Professor  of  Greek.  R.  H.  MATHER, 
also  the  Instructor  in  Mathematics,  W.  C.  ESTY,  I  can  speak 
with  strong  confidence,  because  they  were  educated  here,  and 
I  have  known  them  long  and  intimately.  If  sterling  abilities, 
accurate  scholarship,  amiable  manners,  untiring  industry  and 
high  religious  principle,  can  give  success  and  distinction  in 
instruction,  we  may  safely  anticipate  it  in  their  case. 

It  is  not  proper  that  I  should  give  any  flattering  estimate 
of  the  ability  and  adaptedness  of  my  son,  EDWARD  HITCH 
COCK,  Jr.,  for  the  new  department  of  Hygiene  and  Physical 
Education.  All  I  can  say  is  that  thus  far  it  has  seemed  to  be 
carried  forward  successfully. 

Some  of  the  earlier  and  older  of  the  College  Faculty  with 
whom  I  was  long  associated  (Professors  SHEPARD,  ADAMS 
and  TYLER)  I  shall  notice  in  another  place  seemingly  more 
appropriate. 


STATISTICAL  HISTORY.  43 


SECTION    II. 

STATISTICAL    HISTORY. 

Under  the  term  statistics  I  place  the  number  of  students 
and  instructors,  the  studies  pursued  and  the  public  buildings. 
The  contents  of  the  buildings  as  well,  and  the  funds  of  the 
institution,  might  also  be  appropriately  included ;  but  I  prefer 
to  reserve  those  points  for  distinct  consideration. 

Every  officer  of  college  knows  that  this  is  the  question  most 
frequently  put  to  him  in  the  community :  How  many  students 
have  you  now  in  the  institution  ?  If  it  is  small,  nine  out  of 
ten  conclude  the  college  to  be  in  a  bad  condition ;  if  large,  in 
a  good  condition.  But  the  professor  knows  that  unimportant 
circumstances  have  a  good  deal  to  do  with  numbers,  and  that 
sometimes  the  reason  why  a  college  overflows  with  students  is 
that  it  has  lowered  the  standard  of  scholarship  or  of  discipline 
more  than  other  institutions.  Numbers  only  show  the  estima 
tion  in  which  a  college  is  held  by  the  public,  but  does  not 
settle  its  real  merit.  Nevertheless  if  a  college  like  Amherst 
at  its  commencement  does  not  secure  public  patronage,  it 
could  not  maintain  itself  long  for  want  of  funds.  It  has  had 
to  pass  through  one  long  and  trying  exigency  of  this  sort, 
as  the  following  table  of  its  members  from  the  beginning 
will  show: — 


44 


REMINISCENCES  OF  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 


YEAE. 

Seniors. 

Juniors. 

1 

j 

3 

o 
H 

Graduates. 

1821,    ... 
1822,    
1823,    
1824,    
1825       .... 

3 

5 
19 
25 
33 

6 
21 
29 
41 

24 

19 
32 
41 
31 
45 

31 
40 
37 
39 

50 

59 
98 
126 
136 
152 

3 
5 
20 
25 

1826,    

24 

40 

55 

51 

170 

30 

1827,    

42 

47 

53 

67 

209 

28 

1828,    
1829,    

40 
33 

47 
74 

72 

47 

52 
53 

211 

207 

40 
39 

1830,    

61 

40 

50 

37 

188 

32 

1831,    

39 

46 

50 

60 

195 

60 

1832    

41 

50 

64 

72 

227 

38 

1833,    

44 

50 

60 

85 

239 

38 

1834,    

44 

52 

77 

70 

243 

39 

1835,    

41 

63 

72 

76 

252 

39 

3836,    

60 

50 

73 

76 

259 

38 

1837,    

40 

59 

57 

50 

206 

52 

1838,    
1839,    .    .    .    . 

57 
47 

48 
43 

47 
41 

37 

38 

189 
169 

42 

57 

1840,    

30 

35 

40 

52 

157 

44 

1841,    

28 

27 

43 

44 

142 

32 

1842,    
1843,    

21 

30 

34 
33 

42 

29 

32 

32 

129 
124 

28 
21 

1844,    
1845,    

30 
26 

27 
23 

30 
35 

34 
34 

121 
118 

29 
30 

1846,    
1847,    

19 

29 

30 
36 

36 
35 

35 
50 

120 
150 

26 

18 

1848,    
1849,    
1850,    

33 
25 

41 

29 
43 
52 

52 
55 
49 

52 
53 

40 

166 
176 
182 

30 
30 
25 

1851,    
3852,    
1853,    
1854    

43 
42 
33 
53 

43 
35 

54 
59 

41 
61 
58 
59 

63 
57 
96 
66 

190 
195 
211 
237 

41 
42 
42 
37 

1855,    
1856,    

49 
45 

50 
60 

65 
60 

54 
64 

218 
229 

53 
46 

1857,    

52 

49 

54 

66 

221 

44 

1858,    
1859,    

47 
48 

43 
56 

61 
71 

74 
67 

242 

51 
46 

I860,    

51 

56 

60 

53 

220 

47 

isi;i,   

58 

49 

50 

78 

235 

49 

1869,   !.'.'!! 

42 

42 

76 

60 

220 

54 
35 

Totals,   .... 

2,237 

_ 

1.520 

I  have  followed  the  annual  catalogues  in  giving  the  numbers 
in  the  classes  in  the  different  years.  And  since  the  collegiate 
year  begins  in  the  summer  or  autumn,  and  the  civil  year  in 
January,  the  graduates  are  put  down  a  year  in  advance  of  the 


NUMBER  OF  STUDENTS.  45 

same  men  on  the  annual  catalogue,  so  that  to  find  out  how 
many  of  the  seniors  in  any  given  year  graduated,  we  must 
look  to  the  graduates  of  the  next  year.  Thus  in  1844  there 
were  thirty  seniors,  and  by  looking  at  the  graduates  in  1845 
we  find  that  they  all  graduated.  But  in  1836  there  were 
sixty  seniors,  while  against  1837  there  are  only  fifty-one  grad 
uates,  showing  that  nine  of  the  class  did  not  take  diplomas. 
On  the  other  hand,  against  1853  we  have  thirty-three  seniors, 
but  thirty-seven  graduates  against  1854,  showing  that  four 
were  added  to  the  class  during  the  year. 

By  inspecting  the  preceding  table  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
influx  of  students  in  the  early  years  of  the  College  was  very 
great,  showing  that  a  chord  had  been  struck  to  which  public 
Christian  sentiment  responded.  The  numbers  gradually  rose 
till  in  1836  they  reached  two  hundred  and  fifty-nine.  But 
from  that  tune  an  equally  rapid  diminution  took  place,  till 
within  nine  years  only  one  hundred  and  eighteen  students 
belonged  to  the  College — less  than  half  the  number  in  1836. 
The  causes  of  this  change  in  public  feeling  will  perhaps  be 
better  understood  when  we  come  to  give  facts  about  the  finan 
cial  history  of  the  institution.  But  it  was  hard  work  to  stop 
this  ebbing  tide,  which  would  soon  have  left  the  ship  on  dry 
ground.  The  flood  did,  however,  slowly  come  back,  so  that 
in  1854,  nine  years  more,  the  numbers  were  doubled.  Yet  up 
to  this  time  they  have  never  reached  the  influx  of  1836. 

The  whole  number  of  graduates  on  the  preceding  list,  from 
1822  to  1863  inclusive,  is  one  thousand  five  hundred  and 
twenty.  The  whole  number  that  have  entered  the  Fresh 
man  Class  in  the  same  period,  or  rather  from  1821  to  1862,  is 
two  thousand  two  hundred  and  thirty-seven.  It  might  seem 
at  first  thought  that  this  is  the  whole  number  that  have  ever 
belonged  to  the  College,  and  that  by  deducting  from  this  num 
ber  the  sum  of  the  graduates,  we  could  determine  how  many 
have  failed  to  go  through.  But  this  would  leave  out  all  who 
have  joined  the  higher  classes.  To  find  out  how  many  have 
done  so  I  have  found  a  difficult  and  laborious  task.  But  by 


46 


REMINISCENCES   OP  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 


collating  and  comparing  the  catalogues  I  have  obtained  the 
approximate  number  that  have  entered  the  higher  classes 
during  the  different  years,  from  1823  to  18 63.  I  present 
them  in  the  following  table,  thinking  that  the  details  may  be 
of  some  service. 

It  ought  to  be  stated  that  where  students  fall  back  from  a 
higher  to  a  lower  class,  or  leave  college  and  subsequently 
return,  their  names  will  be  repeated  in  the  catalogues  as  enter 
ing  twice,  as  in  fact  they  do.  As  an  offset  to  this,  those 
persons  are  not  included  in  the  following  list  who  enter  college 
say  at  commencement,  but  never  join  it,  or  if  they  do,  do  not 
continue  members  till  the  time  of  making  up  the  catalogue ; 
and  the  number  of  such  students  is  considerably  large.  We 
must  hence  regard  the  following  numbers  as  a  tolerably  near 
approach  to  the  exact  numbers. 


YEAR. 

°3 

02 

Juniors. 

Sophomores.  1 

YEAE. 

Seniors. 

Juniors. 

Sophomores.  1 

1822, 

_ 

2 

3 

1844, 

1 

3 

3 

1823, 

_ 

2 

9 

1845, 

1 

1 

8 

1824, 

- 

2 

4 

1846, 

_ 

2 

10 

1825,    :.. 

_ 

3 

12 

1847, 

1 

'  7 

5 

1826, 

2 

2 

10 

1848, 

- 

3 

12 

1827, 

1 

1 

7 

1849, 

2 

4 

13 

1828, 

1 

4 

14 

1850, 

2 

6 

8 

1829, 

1 

7 

5 

1851, 

1 

2 

G 

1830, 

2 

4  i 

13 

1852, 

1 

1 

5 

1831, 

_ 

6 

19 

1853, 

3 

4 

10 

1832, 

_ 

6 

13 

1854, 

7 

8 

14 

1833, 

4 

5 

7 

1855, 

1 

4 

9 

1834, 

4 

6 

11 

1856, 

1 

7 

14 

1835, 

- 

5 

11 

1857, 

1 

4 

7 

1836, 

2 

1 

7 

1858, 

3 

5 

8 

1837, 

1 

3 

6 

1859, 

2 

3 

12 

1838, 

5 

2 

9 

1860, 

1 

1 

9 

1839, 

3 

5 

11 

1861, 

4 

4 

5 

1840, 

- 

5 

7 

1862, 

1 

3 

10 

1841 

2 

5 

1842J 

_ 

3 

7 

Totals,   . 

60 

149 

361 

1843, 

1 

1 

3 

Total  Seniors,  Juniors,  and  Sophomores, 
Total  Freshmen,   .        .        .        .        , 


570 
2,237 


2,807 


WHOLE   NUMBER   OF   STUDENTS.  47 

The  preceding  list  shows  us  that  006  have  joined  the  upper 
classes  from  1821  to  1862.  This  added  to  2,237,  the  number 
of  Freshmen  to  1862,  makes  2,807,  equal  the  whole  number 
who  have  joined  the  College  since  its  commencement.  De 
ducting  from  this  the  number  of  graduates,  equal  1,481,  it 
leaves  the  appalling  number  of  1,326  who  have  never  gradu 
ated.  This  is  equal  to  about  forty-seven  per  cent. !  very  nearly 
one-half!  Some  of  these,  however,  went  to  other  colleges  and 
graduated  there,  but  I  am  afraid  the  number  of  such  was  not 
very  large.  The  fact  is  the  failure  of  young  men  who  attempt 
to  obtain  a  public  education  is  frightfully  large.  If  we  should 
go  farther  back  than  the  College,  how  many  never  got  so  far 
as  to  offer  themselves  at  its  gates.  And  if  sixty  or  seventy  do 
enter,  I  never  knew  the  case  in  which  some  of  them  did  not 
fail  to  appear  at  recitation,  and  of  those  who  enter,  if  the  cata 
logue  be  delayed  a  few  weeks,  others  drop  off;  at  the  close  of 
the  term  a  still  larger  number,  and  at  the  end  of  Freshman 
year  the  stampede  is  often  quite  large.  The  causes  are  various. 
Some  are  affected  by  an  incurable  home-sickness ;  others  find 
that  they  have  overrated  their  scholarship,  and  will  have  to 
struggle  desperately  if  they  remain  to  hold  on  even  at  the  tail 
of  the  class  ;  others  are  driven  away  by  abuse  from  the  older 
classes;  but  at  Amherst  the  most  prolific  cause  is  poverty. 
And  as  this  College  was  founded  specially  for  indigent  students, 
the  numbers  who  fail  to  go  through  may  be  larger  than  at 
almost  any  other  college  in  the  country,  because  so  many 
extremely  poor  resort  to  that  institution.  But  though  such 
young  men  often  become  quite  useful,  yet  it  is  sad  to  blast  at 
once  so  many  bright  hopes,  not  only  of  students  but  of  their 
friends. 

A  second  point  in  the  statistics  of  the  College  relates  to  the 
instruction  which  has  been  provided  for  the  students.  Though 
at  first  the  professorships  were  few,  yet  the  great  numbers  that 
flocked  to  the  new  College  compelled  the  Trustees  to  make 
more  ample  provision  than  their  funds  would  justify ;  for  from 
the  outset  they  had  token  the  high  ground  that  they  should 


48  REMINISCENCES   OP  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

give  as  thorough  an  education  as  any  of  the  New  England 
colleges.  At  first  this  could  not  be  realized,  especially  in  the 
physical  departments,  for  the  want  of  apparatus  and  specimens. 
But  in  thorough  drilling  and  scholarship  they  soon  redeemed 
their  pledge,  and  though  they  could  not  send  forth  their  grad 
uates  with  the  prestige  of  the  older  seminaries,  it  was  found 
that  in  the  professional  seminaries  Amherst  graduates  did  not 
fall  behind  any  others,  as  I  have  been  assured  by  gentlemen 
connected  with  some  of  those  seminaries. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  Professorships,  Preceptorships, 
Tutorships,  and  Lectureships  in  the  College  to  the  present 
time,  (1863,)  the  number  of  years  they  have  been  continued, 
the  number  of  changes  of  incumbents,  and  the  years  when 
only  isolated  instruction  was  enjoyed : — 

I. — PROFESSORSHIPS. 

1.  Divinity,  Moral  Philosophy  and  Metaphysics,  from  1821  to 
1835  :  change  of  incumbents  in  1823. 

2.  Mathematics   and  Natural  Philosophy,   from   1821   to   18C3 : 
change  of  incumbents  in  1825,  1829,  1833,  and  1834. 

3.  Latin  and  Greek  Languages,  1821  to  1825,  and  1833  to  1847  : 
change  of  incumbents  in  1824,  1825,  1833,  and  1836. 

4.  Oriental  Literature,  from  1821  to  1828.     (No  instruction.) 

5.  Greek  Language  and  Literature,  and  Belles  Lettres,  1825  to 
1833. 

G.  Latin  and  Hebrew,  1825  to  1833. 

7.  Rhetoric  and  Oratory,  1825  to  1863  :  change  of  incumbents  in 
1835,  1838,  1844,  1853  and  1856. 

7.  Chemistry  and   Natural   History,   1825   to  18G3 :   change  of 
iticumbents  in  1845  and  1852. 

8.  Divinity,  1835  to  1845. 

9.  Intellectual  and  Moral  Philosophy,  1835  to  1863:  change  of 
incumbents  in  1836,  1847,  1850,  and  1858. 

10.  Natural  Theology  and  Geology,  1845  to  1863.    • 

11.  Greek  and  Hebrew  Language  and  Literature,  1847  to  1863. 

12.  Latin  and  Modern  Languages,  1847  to  1854  :  change  of  incum 
bent  in  1850. 

13.  Latin  Language  and  Literature,  1858  to  1863. 

14.  Zodlogy  and  Astronomy,  1847  to  1852. 

15.  Chemistry,  Botany  and  Zoology,  1852  to  1858. 


INSTRUCTION.  49 

16.  Analytical  Chemistry,  1854  to  1856. 

17.  Moral  and  Christian  Science,  1854  to  1863. 

18.  History,  1855  to  1858. 

19.  Botany,  1858  to  1863. 

20.  Hygiene  and  Physical  Education,  1860  to  1863 :  change  of 
incumbent  in  1861. 

II. — PRECEPTORSIIIPS  AND  TUTORSHIPS. 

1.  Latin  and  Greek,  1824  and  1825,  and  1844  and  1846:  change 
of  incumbents  in  1825  and  1844. 

2.  Mathematics,  1827  to  1829,  1859  to  1860,  1862  to  1863 :  change 
of  incumbents  in  1859  and  1862. 

3.  Rhetoric  and  Oratory,  insulated  instruction  in  1838. 

4.  Modern  Languages,  1827  to  1831,  1835  to  1841,  1848  to  1850, 
and  1854 :  change  of  incumbents  in  1828,  1831,  1835,  1841,  1848, 
1849,  1850,  and  1854.     Insulated  instruction  in  1854. 

5.  Oriental  Literature,  1852  to  1857. 

6.  Agriculture,  1852  to  1856. 

7.  Latin  and  French,  1855  to  1858,  1858  to  1863  :  change  of  incum 
bent  in  1858. 

8.  German,  1858  to  1863. 

9.  Greek,  1859  to  1863. 

10.  French,  1862  to  1863. 

11.  Number  of  Tutors.     In  the  years   1821,   1824,  1825,    1827, 
1828,  1829,  1830,  1838,  1844,  1847,  1853,  1854,  1860,  and  1861,  one 
Tutor.     In  1822,   1823,  1830,   1834,   1836,  1839,   1841,   1842,  1846, 
1847,  1851,  1852,  1857,  1858,  1862,  two  Tutors.     In  1833, 1835, 1837, 
1849,  1855  and  1856,  three  Tutors.     In  1832,  four  Tutors. 

III. — LECTURESHIPS. 

1.  Political  Economy.    Insulated  course  in  1832  and  1835,  1852 
and  1853,  1860  to  1863:  change  of  incumbent  in  1835,  1852. 

2.  Anatomy.     Insulated  course  in  1835,  1836  to  1861,  1861  to  1863  : 
change  of  incumbent  in  1836  and  1861. 

3.  History,  1854  and  1855,  1858  to  1863.  < 

4.  Zoology,  1858  to  1863. 

But  though  this  table  shows  the  Professorships,  it  does  not 
show  who  filled  them.     I  therefore  add  another  table  showin^ 

£D 

who  were  the  incumbents,  and  how  long  each  one  has  labored, 
whether  in  one,  two  or  more  capacities,  up  to  the  year  1863-4, 
or  during  the  first  forty-two  years  of  the  College  : — 
3 


50 


REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 


NAMES. 

1 

-J 

As  Professor. 

As  Instructor. 

As  Tutor. 

| 

•< 

Z.S.Moore,  .  .  .  .  .  _  * 
IT.  Humphrey,  

2 
22 

10 

28 

- 

- 

25 

9 

G.  S.  Olds,  
J.  Abbott,  

4 
4 

- 

- 

- 

T.  Hovev  
E.  S.  Snell,  

- 

4 
34 
3 

2 

2 

- 

N.  W.  Fiske,'  
William  S  Tyler  .... 

- 

23 
27 

- 

2 

- 

6 

7 

Samuel  M.  Worcester,  .... 
Jonathan  B.  Condit,  .... 
William  G.  Fowler,  .... 

- 

9 
3 
5 
9 

1 

- 

- 

3 

2 

James  G.  Vose,  
Charles  U.  Shepard,  .... 

- 

7 
18 
1 

- 

- 

3 

8 

5 

2 

William  A.  Peabody,  .... 

- 

1 
4 

- 

2 
2 

- 

Edward  P.  Crowell,  .... 
Charles  B.  Adams,  • 

- 

5 
5 
H 

- 

2 
1 

- 

2 

1 

Edward  Tuckerman,  .... 
Edward  Hitchcock,  Jr.,  .  .  .  •• 

- 

8 
3 

2 

- 

9 

1 

2 

_ 

James  Humphrey,  
Charles  Holler,  
Ernest  Hovel,  

- 

_ 

1 
1 
2 
1 

_ 

Victor  Manget  
Edward  P.  le  Prohou,  .  .  .  *  <i 
Jabez  B.  Lyman,  
Augustus  wimmer,  .... 

- 

! 

5 
1 
1 

1 
5 

- 

- 

_ 

_ 

4 

_ 

_ 

George  Rowland,  
William  L.  Montague,  .... 
Richard  H.  Mather,  . 

- 

i 
i 

2 
3 
3 

3 
1 

~ 

Lucius  Field,  
William  S.  Burt,  .  .  .  .  . 
Elijah  L.Coe,  
.Zenas  Clapp,  

- 

1 

1 
1 
1 

- 

INSTRUCTORS. 


51 


NAMES. 

As  President. 

As  Professor. 

As  Instructor. 

AB  Tutor. 

As  Lecturer. 

1 

Joseph  S.  Clark       

_ 

_ 

1 

_ 

William  P.  Paine,   

_ 

_ 

_ 

1 

_ 

Story  Hebard,  

- 

- 

- 

1 
1 

- 

Horace  B.  Hackett,         .... 
Justin  Perkins,         ..... 
Timothy  DwSght,    
Edward  P.  Humphrey,    .... 
Ebenezer  Burgess,  .        .        .        .     '  •  . 
Elbridge  Bradbury,         .... 
Thatcher  Thayer,    .        .        .        .        . 
Wellington  H.  Tyler,      .... 

- 

- 

- 

1 
1 
1 
1 
2 
1 
2 
2 
1 

- 

_ 

_ 

_ 

1 

_ 

Calvin  E.  Park,       ..... 

_ 

_ 

_ 

2 

_ 

_ 

_ 

_ 

2 

_ 

George  C.  Partridge,       .... 

_ 

_ 

_ 

2 

_ 

Clinton  Clark,         

_ 

_ 

_ 

4 

_ 

_ 

2 

Jesse  G.  D.  Stearns,        .... 
Roswell  D.  Hitchcock,    .        .        . 
Charles  E.  Washburn,    .... 
Thomas  S.  Miller,   
Henry  M.  Spofford,          .... 

- 

- 

- 

2 
3 
1 
2 
3 

- 

_ 

_ 

2 

_ 

David  Torrey,         .... 

- 

- 

- 

1 
1 

- 

_ 

2 

Erancis  A.  March,   
Albert  Tolman,        
Leonard  Humphrey,        .... 
William  HowJand,  ..... 
Henry  L.  Edwards,          .... 
William  C.  Dickinson,    .... 
John  M.  Emerson,  ..... 
Samuel  Fiske,          
John  E.  Sanford,     
George  N.  Webber,         .... 
Reuben  M.  Benjamin,     .... 
John  M.  Greene,      ..... 

- 

- 

- 

2 
2 
1 
2 
3 
1 
2 
3 
1 
1 
1 
2 

- 

Edmund  M.  Pease,  ..... 
Asa  S.  Fisk,    
L.  S.  Rowland,        

- 

- 

- 

1 
2 
2 

- 

John  Averj-,    
Samuel  C.  Allen,     ..... 

- 

- 

— 

1 

1 
15 

Alfred  Post,     
Charles  H.  Hitchcock,    .... 
Amasa  Walker,       .        .        .        . 

- 

- 

- 

- 

8 
5 
4 

52  REMINISCENCES   OF   AM II ERST   COLLEGE. 

After  all,  the  preceding  tables,  without  some  explanation, 
will  convey  some  erroneous  ideas  as  to  the  instruction  that  has 
been  given  in  the  College.  Thus  by  looking  at  the  names  of 
Jonas  King  and  James  L.  Merrick,  we  should  suppose  that 
the  College  had  enjoyed  eleven  years  of  instruction  in  Oriental 
Literature  from  highly  competent  officers.  Whereas,  in  fact, 
about  half  a  dozen  lectures  by  Mr.  Merrick,  delivered  only 
once,  constituted  the  whole.  But  as  the  names  of  these  gentle 
men  were  continued  on  the  catalogues  many  years,  they  were 
transferred  to  the  Triennial.  So  Professor  Gridley  never 
joined  the  College.  Professor  J.  A.  Nash,  I  believe,  never 
gave  any  instruction  on  Agriculture ;  nor  Hon.  W.  B.  Calhoun 
more  than  one  course  on  Political  Economy ;  nor  Dr.  Post 
but  one  course  on  Anatomy.  With  these  exceptions  all  the 
services  represented  on  the  above  schedule  have  been  actually 
performed.  But  in  several  cases  the  instruction  given  by 
gentlemen  occupied  but  a  small  part  of  the  year,  and  they 
were  absent  from  the  town  most  of  the  time. 

The  statistics  of  instruction  would  be  incomplete  without 
giving  some  idea  of  the  manner  in  which  the  time  of  the  classes 
is  apportioned  to  the  different  departments. 

Not  until  within  a  few  years  has  it  been  customary  to  give 
on  the  annual  catalogue  a  tabular  view  of  the  College  exer 
cises,  and  therefore  accurate  comparison  between  the  present 
and  the  past  is  not  possible.  But  I  will  try  to  put  into  an 
arithmetical  form  the  distribution  of  the  studies  in  1862-3. 

It  should  be  stated  that  all  the  tutors  and  most  of  the 
instructors  have  given  their  aid  exclusively,  with  the  exception 
of  some  aid  to  the  Rhetoric,  to  the  departments  of  Mathematics 
or  the  Languages.  No  extra  assistance  has  ever  been  given 
by  them  to  the  department  of  Metaphysics,  Chemistry  or 
Natural  History — I  mean  in  the  way  of  instruction. 

In  the  academical  year  1862-3,  were  thirty-eight  weeks  of 
term  time.  There  are  three  exercises  upon  five  days  of  the 
week,  and  two  exercises  upon  the  sixth  day.  Sometimes  two 
lectures  take  the  place  of  one  exercise.  In  such  case,  in  the 


EXERCISES. — STUDIES. 


53 


following  estimate  they  are  ranked  as  one.  The  number  of 
exercises  in  the  several  departments  are  given  precisely  as  in 
the  catalogue,  without  any  allowance  for  examinations  and 
holidays.  The  total  number  of  exercises  in  the  whole  course 
amounts  to  2,508. 


Freshman  Year. 
Greek,         .        . 

.    203 

Sophomore  Year. 
Greek,        .        *       *    •*  * 

112 

Latin,          .        .        . 

.     179 

Latin,      •  •»        *    -    . 

143 

Mathematics, 
Rhetoric,     . 
Paley,         .    .    »  :      » 

.     1GO 
.       70 
16 

Mathematics  and  Physics,  . 
Rhetoric,     . 
Chemistry,           •        .         . 

149 
101 

58 

Eschenberg,        .        ,. 
Mineralogy,        .        • 

Junior  Year. 

12 
6 

646 
.     190 

Physiology,         ,;    -  -%     r  * 
Modern  Languages,    ..:     .  ^ 
History,      .        .               .  * 

Senior  Year. 
Mental  and  Moral  Philoso- 

18 
52 
13 

646 

Greek,        ..      ..  '      . 

.     156 

904- 

Rhetoric,    .         „        « 
Modern  Languages,   . 
Latin,          .         .        r,  , 

.      94 

.      76 

.       72 
28 

Geology,     .     >.-,<       »        . 
Constitutional  Law,    .        , 
History,      ...       ,;        .      ,  , 
Butler's  Analogy 

57 
54 
58 
48 

Biblical  Literature,     . 
Mineralogy, 

.       24 
6 

646 

Rhetoric,     *        *        ,        , 
Elective  Studies,        *  :  ,    » 
Mineralogy,        . 
Natural  Theology, 
Political  Science,        .        » 
Zoology,     .        .        ,      .  . 
Bible  Lectures,  .        .        . 

39 
36 
24 
18 
12 
11 
9 

570 


Adding  the  above  numbers  together  for  the  different  depart 
ments,  and  they  will  stand  as  follows,  showing  the  amount 
of  time  devoted  to  each  department : — 


Mathematics,      (273)  and 

Physics,  (226),        .  .  499 

Greek,         .         .        .  .  471 

Latin,          ;        .  "  ,  394 


Rhetoric  and  Oratory,         .     304 
Mental  and  Moral  Philoso 
phy,  including  Constitu 
tional  Law,      .        .        .258 


54 


REMINISCENCES  OF  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 


Modern  Languages,    .        .  128 
History,  (including  Eschen- 

berg),  ....  83 
Chemistry, .  ...  .58 
Geology,  ...  .  57 
Butler's  Analogy,  .  .  48 
Elective  Studies,  .  .  36 
Mineralogy,  .  .  .  36 
Natural  Theology,  (includ 
ing  Paley,)  ...  34 


Biblical  Studies, 
Botany,       .         .         .         . 
Physiology,  (exclud'g  gym 
nastic  exercises,)    . 
Political  Science, 
Zoology,     .  •      .        . 


28 

18 

.       12 
.       11 

2,508 


It  may  give  a  clear  idea  of  the  relative  attention  given  to 
the  different  branches,  if  I  assume  100  as  the  whole  amount 
of  exercises,  and  then  the  portion  of  time  given  to  each  will 
be  as  follows : — 


Mathematics,  (10.88,)  and 
Physics,  (9.01,)    . 
Greek,     .... 

19.89 

18  77 

Butler's  Analogy,     . 
Elective  Studies, 
Mineralogy,     .        .    ' 

.       1.83 
.       1.43 
1.43 

Latin,       .... 
Rhetoric  and  Oratory,      . 
Mental  and  Moral  Philos 
ophy,    .... 
Modern  Languages,        *• 
History,   .         .         .        . 

15.70 
12.12 

10.27 
5.10 
3.30 

Natural  Theology,  . 
Biblical  Studies, 
Botany,    .         ..        ,. 
Physiology, 
Political  Science,     . 

.       1.35 
.      1.31 
.       1.11 
.71 
.47 
»        .43 

Chemistry,       .        .        . 
Geology,  .        .        .        , 

2.31 
2.27 

99.80 

It  would  be  interesting,  could  I  state  the  division  of  the  time 
of  instruction  among  the  different  departments  in  the  earlier 
periods  of  the  College.  But  no  proper  data  remain.  I  can 
only  remember  that  when  I  had  charge  of  Chemistry  and 
Natural  History,  about  four  exercises  per  week  were  allowed 
me — which  is  scarcely  less  than  the  time  now  given  to  these 
subjects,  although  since  that  time  they  have  prodigiously 
expanded  and  become  much  more  important.  In  all  the 
other  branches  the  standard  of  scholarship  is  greatly  raised. 
This  is  particularly  manifest  in  Greek  and  Latin,  of  which 
students  now  have  more  knowledge  at  the  close  of  Freshman 
year  than  formerly  at  the  end  of  the  course. 


PUBLIC   BUILDINGS.  55 

The  first  list  of  the  courses  of  lectures  delivered  in  College 
given  in  the  catalogue  for  1826,  is  as  follows : — 


1. — Chemistry. 
2. — Mineralogy. 
3.— Botany. 
4. — Geology. 


5. — Natural  Philosophy. 
G. — Greek  Literature. 
7. — Roman  Literature. 
8. — Rhetoric  and  Oratory. 


The  corresponding  list  for  1863  is  as  follows : — 


1. — Rhetoric  and  English  Lit 
erature. 

2. — Classical  Literature. 
3.— Natural  Philosophy. 
4. — Mental  Philosophy. 
5.— Moral  Philosophy. 
6. — History  of  Philosophy. 
7.— Biblical  Theology. 


9. — Public  Economy. 
10. — Chemistry. 
11.— Anatomy  and  Physiology. 
12.— Zoology. 
13. — Botany. 
14. — Mineralogy. 
15. — Geology. 
16.— History. 


8. — Natural  Theology. 

PUBLIC  BUILDINGS. 

In  no  way  is  the  progress  of  the  College  more  distinctly 
marked  than  by  the  additions  to  its  public  buildings.  Fortu 
nately  the  means  are  at  hand  for  showing  this  progress,  not 
only  by  description,  but  by  pictorial  representations.  My 
oldest  daughter  (Mary,)  a  few  years  ago  got  hold  of  two 
views  of  the  College,  one  taken  in  1821  and  the  other  in  1824,* 
which,  though  rudely  sketched,  she  was  able  to  bring  into  the 
octavo  form  to  correspond  with  those  that  appeared  later  in 
the  annual  catalogues.  These  views  were  taken  from  the 
south-west,  as  were  all  the  subsequent  ones,  for  this  is  the 
only  point  from  which  all  the  buildings  can  be  seen,  except 
the  gymnasium.  For  they  all  front  the  west  or  south-west. 
Hence  photographers  have  chosen  the  hill  on  Mr.  George 
Baker's  farm,  from  which  they  took  the  sketch  that  appeared 
in  the  catalogue  of  1847  and  that  also  which  appeared  in 

*  The  view  taken  in  1821  forms  the  frontispiece ;  that  in  1824  we  insert  in 
this  place.  A  more  recent  one  will  be  given  farther  on. 


56  REMINISCENCES   OF  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

1858.  The  gymnasium  being  on  the  north-east  side  of  the 
College  grounds  and  on  a  lower  level,  is  hidden  by  the  other 
buildings. 

The  first  building  erected  in  1820  was  the  present  South 
College,  a  dormitory  building  100  feet  long  and  four  stories 
high,  containing  thirty-two  rooms,  each  intended  to  accommo 
date  two  students.  It  was  built  by  subscription  and  in  little 
more  than  three  months.  Hence  it  is  without  architectural 
ornament.  Indeed  I  doubt  whether  any  architect  of  judgment 
and  taste  was  consulted.  This  was  unfortunate,  as  the  pattern 
thus  started  was  followed  for  the  two  next  dormitory  buildings 
and  the  College  Chapel.  Hence  they  form  an  unsightly  row 
of  brick  and  mortar — mere  hollow  parallelepipeds  divided 
into  compartments  called  rooms.  Had  some  architectural 
taste  been  exhibited  in  the  first  building,  it  would  have  been 
copied,  and  almost  without  any  additional  expense.  But  to 
prepare  men  for  the  Christian  ministry  was  the  grand  object, 
and  every  thing  not  essential  to  this  was  conscientiously 
avoided.  It  was  not  till  the  erection  of  the  Woods  Cabinet 
in  1848,  that  an  exhibition  of  good  taste  in  the  buildings 
where  young  men  are  educated,  was  thought  promotive  of  the 
main  object  instead  of  needless  waste. 

In  1822  a  second  dormitory  building  was  erected  north  of 
the  first  one,  and  of  the  same  size,  leaving  space  between  them 
for  a  chapel.  It  is  the  present  North  College,  but  for  many 
years  on  the  catalogues  it  is  called  Middle  College ;  a  third 
one  having  subsequently  been  erected  (in  1828)  farther  north. 

Both  in  the  sketch  of  1821  and  that  of  1824,  the  meeting 
house  of  Amherst  West  Parish  is  seen  upon  the  left  considerably 
north-west  of  the  College,  and  the  hill  between  them  is  repre 
sented  as  continuous.  So  it  then  was ;  but  some  years  after 
wards  the  deep  valley  that  now  exists  between  the  site  of  the 
church  and  the  colleges  was  excavated,  in  order  to  form  a 
terrace  in  front  of  the  South  College.  The  meeting-house  was 
taken  down  in  1829,  after  a  new  one  (that  now  existing)  had 
been  built  on  the  west  side  of  the  street.  This  also  was  con- 


CHAPEL  BUILDING.  57 

structed  with  such  a  sad  want  of  taste,  that  it  has  e^er  been  a 
byeword  and  a  butt  of  ridicule. 

On  the  sketch  of  1824  may  be  seen  in  front  of  the  colleges 
a  small  pyramidal  structure,  say  fifteen  feet  high,  in  which  the 
College  bell  was  placed.  I  recollect  this  to  be  standing  in 
1825.  But  it  was  too  tempting  an  object  to  unruly  students, 
who  at  length  capsized  it,  and  whether  it  was  ever  restored  to 
its  normal  position  I  have  forgotten.  I  have  forgotten,  too, 
why  the  meeting-house  bell  was  not  used  for  College  purposes. 
Probably,  however,  there  were  objections  in  the  parish,  as  it 
is  well  known  that  many  citizens  of  Amherst  were  strongly 
opposed  to  the  College. 

In  1826  and  1827  the  chapel  building  was  erected,  so  called 
because  the  chapel  room  is  the  largest.  But  it  was  intended 
to  embrace  nearly  all  the  public  rooms  essential  to  a  college, — 
the  lecture  and  recitation  rooms — a  philosophical  cabinet — a 
laboratory — and  a  natural  history  ^cabinet,  and  a  library.  All 
these  rooms,  not  less  than  ten  or  twelve,  it  contained.  But  in 
subsequent  years  some  of  the  departments  found  the  accom 
modations  inconvenient  or  too  narrow,  and  sought  better 
quarters.  This  gave  opportunity  for  multiplying  the  lecture 
and  recitation  rooms,  and  for  providing  a  side  chapel  of 
sufficient  size  to  contain  all  college  at  prayers  or  evening, 
religious,  and  other  meetings.  It  was  unfortunate,  however, 
that  the  plan  of  the  building  did  not  pass  under  the  eye  of 
some  competent  and  responsible  architect. 

The  means  of  erecting  this  building  were  obtained  in  part 
from  a  legacy  left  by  Adam  Johnson,  of  Pelham,  the  condition 
of  which  was  that  the  chapel  should  bear  his  name.  It  seems 
that  his  will  was  at  first  set  aside  by  the  judge  of  probate,  but 
the  College  went  into  a  litigation  on  the  points,  and  got  that 
decision  reversed.  Yet  the  expenses  reduced  the  legacy  so 
that  $4,000  only  was  received,  and  the  Trustees,  in  1828,  "in 
testimony  of  their  grateful  remembrance  of  the  munificent 
donation,"  voted  "  that  the  apartment  in  said  building  occupied 
as  a  chapel  shall  hereafter  forever  be  called  Johnson  Chapel; 
3* 


58  REMINISCENCES   OF  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

and  that  the  words  JOHNSON  CHAPEL  be  inscribed  in  large  and 
distinct  characters  over  the  middle  door  or  principal  entrance 
of  the  apartment  aforesaid."  The  remainder  of  the  funds, 
certainly  not  less  than  $11,000,  were  borrowed  or  subscribed. 

The  Trustees  appointed  a  committee  as  early  as  1825,  "  to 
advertise  for  proposals  for  the  erection  of  a  chapel  and  another 
college  building  of  the  same  dimensions  with  those  now  exist 
ing."  The  chapel  was  built,  as  we  have  stated,  in  182G,  but 
the  dormitory  building  not  till  the  early  part  of  1828,  and  then 
only  by  increasing  the  college  debt.  The  accommodations 
being  now  provided  for  nearly  two  hundred  students,  the 
Trustees  did  not  feel  constrained  to  erect  any  more  edifices 
for  several  years,  as  they  began  to  feel  heavily  the  pressure 
of  debt.  They  did,  however,. in  1834,  make  a  movement  to 
erect  another  on  the  south  border  of  the  hill  corresponding  to 
North  College,  which  stood  on  lower  ground,  and  its  largest 
diameter  at  right  angles  to  the  general  front.  The  ground  on 
the  south  side  was  graded  to  the  same  level,  but  no  hall  or 
dormitory  building  was  ever  erected  there. 

The  first  President's  house  was  built  in  1820,  and  was 
occupied  first  by  Dr.  Moore,  while  he  lived,  and  then  by 
Dr.  Humphrey,  till  1833,  when  a  movement  was  made  by  the 
Trustees  to  erect  a  new  President's  house  on  the  top  of  the 
hill  opposite  the  College,  and  to  sell  the  old  one.  It  was 
hoped  that  enough  might  be  realized  from  this  sale  and  from 
some  old  and  rather  doubtful  subscriptions,  to  make  $5,000, 
which  was  the  estimated  cost  of  the  new  house.  An  impres 
sion  was  wide-spread  in  consequence  of  some  sickness  in 
Dr.  Humphrey's  family,  that  the  old  house  was  damp  and 
unhealthy,  and  one  of  the  more  ardent  of  the  Trustees  said 
in  the  meeting,  "  Gentlemen,  you  must  either  build  a  new 
house  for  your  President,  or  lay  him  and  his  family  in  yonder 
graveyard."  This  argument  was  conclusive,  and  during  1834 
and  '35  the  house  was  built,  not  by  contract,  but  by  days' 
works,  and  the  consequence  was,  that  when  the  bills  were  all 
in,  they  amounted  to  about  $9,000.  I  happened  to  preside 


PRESIDENT'S  HOUSES.  59 

at  tlie  meeting  of  the  Trustees  in  1835,  during  Dr.  Hum 
phrey's  absence  in  Europe,  when  these  bills  were  presented, 
and  I  noticed  that  nobody  could  be  found  who  felt  a  responsi 
bility  for  such  large  bills.  The  old  house  was  sold  to  Profes 
sor  Fowler,  for  about  $2,500,  leaving  an  additional  debt  upon 
the  College  of  $6,000  or  $7,000.  The  new  house  is  indeed 
large,  commodious,  and  in  good  architectural  proportions.  But 
in  my  judgment  its  location  is  not  near  as  good  for  a  Presi 
dent's  house  as  that  of  the  old  one.  It  is  too  near  the  Col 
lege,  and  overlooks  it  too  much,  and  is  too  much  overlooked 
by  the  College.  For  a  President  should  not  be  obliged  to  see 
every  small  impropriety  of  students,  because  he  must  notice 
them  all ;  and  this  will  be  apt  to  awaken  prejudices  against 
him.  The  old  house  was  much  better  situated,  and  Professor 
Fowler,  by  furring  out  the  walls,  made  it  perfectly  dry  and 
healthy.  I  have,  therefore,  always  regarded  the  building  of 
this  new  house  as  unfortunate,  although  done  from  the  very 
best  of  motives.  It  threw  a  great  weight  into  the  wrong 
scale  of  the  pecuniary  affairs  of  the  College,  already  far  too 
much  depressed. 

Soon  after  this  time  a  reverse  began  to  come  over  the  Col 
lege.  Its  debts  pressed  heavily,  the  public  became  nervous 
under  such  incessant  demands  for  aid,  and  the  number  of  stu 
dents  rapidly  diminished,  thus  rendering  outward  assistance 
more  necessary.  Hence  the  struggle  was  for  existence  rather 
than  the  erection  of  new  buildings,  and  it  was  not  till  the  ship 
had  reached  the  bottom  of  the  gulf  and  began  to  rise  on  a  new 
wave,  that  another  new  edifice  was  thought  of.  As  I  had  the 
principal  concern  in  getting  up  this,  I  desire  to  say  that  I 
proceeded  on  an  entirely  different  principle  from  that  which 
seems  previously  to  have  governed.  My  principle  was  never 
to  take  one  step  towards  the  actual  erection  of  a  public  edifice 
till  the  entire  funds  were  in  our  hands.  In  all  the  buildings 

O 

which  I  was  the  means  of  erecting  subsequently  I  acted  on  this 
principle,  and  am  satisfied  that  it  is  the  true  one,  both  pruden- 
tially  and  religiously.  Its  importance  and  the  contrary  prac- 


60  REMINISCENCES   OF  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

tice  of  so  many  excellent  men  may  lead  me  to  recur  to  it  again 
in  another  connection. 

Soon  after  I  entered  upon  the  Presidency  of  the  College, 
say  near  the  end  of  1845  or  the  beginning  of  1846,  the  plan 
entered  my  mind  of  attempting  to  raise  money  to  build  a 
Cabinet.  I  was  stimulated  also  by  the  offer  of  Professor  C.  IT. 
Shepard  to  deposit  his  collections  here  if  a  good  building  were 
provided.  I  went  to  Boston  to  make  a  preliminary  effort,  but 
without  much  success.  On  my  return,  however,  I  met  Hon. 
Josiah  B.  Woods,  of  Enfield,  who  expressed  a  conviction  that 
he  could  obtain  the  means  for  such  an  object,  and  I  persuaded 
him  to  attempt  it.  He  did  succeed  so  well  that  the  Trustees  at 
commencement  in  August,  1846,  voted  to  erect  "a  fire  proof 
building  for  a  cabinet  of  Natural  History  and  an  Astronomical 
Observatory."  This  was  done  in  1847,  at  an  expense  of 
$9,000,  constituting  the  present  Woods  Cabinet  and  Lawrence 
Observatory,  to  which  two  other  buildings  have  since  been 
attached.  It  was  completed  and  nearly  filled  with  specimens, 
so  as  to  be  publicly  dedicated  June  28th,  1848.  That  occa 
sion,  however,  was  not  simply  a  dedication  of  the  new  building^ 
for  a  little  before  that  time  other  gratifying  changes  had  taken 
place  in  the  condition  of  the  College  so  great  that  the  Trustees 
felt  as  if  some  public  recognition  of  the  blessings  was  proper, 
and  they  chose  this  occasion,  giving  a  general  invitation  to  the 
benefactors  of  the  College  to  be  present.  The  prominent  ones 
were  there,  either  by  letter  or  in  propria  persona,  and  many 
interesting  addresses  full  of  valuable  reminiscences  were  made. 
The  principal  one  was  by  Hon.  William  B.  Calhoun,  and  was 
an  admirable  performance. 

The  architect  of  this  building  was  Henry  A.  Sykes,  Esq., 
of  Springfield,  a  man  of  consistent  piety,  of  good  taste,  and 
thorough  acquaintance  with  his  profession.  I  said  to  him,  I 
want  you  should  make  both  the  Cabinet  and  the  Observatory 
octagonal,  and  of  such  dimensions  as  you  can  with  the  money 
we  have  on  hand,  taking  care  not  to  leave  us  a  cent  in  debt. 
Adapt  the  building  to  the  shape,  size,  and  position  of  the  hill, 


WOODS   CABINET.  61 

and  give  it  such  a  form  that  other  buildings  can  be  added  to 
it  hereafter,  without  marring  the  plan.  When  it  was  finished, 
some  of  our  good  friends  who  had  never  seen  the  architecture 
of  Europe,  were  greatly  scandalized  because  the  building  had 
so  many  angles,  and  its  longer  axis  or  front  was  not  perpen 
dicular  to  the  face  of  the  row  of  buildings  behind,  but  quite 
oblique,  conforming  to  the  crest  of  the  hill.  But  gentlemen 
who  have  studied  the  architecture  of  Europe,  and  the  effect 
of  form  and  position,  have  again  and  again  expressed  to  me 
their  admiration  of  this  building  in  connection  with  its  sur 
roundings.  Nor  will  future  additions  to  this  pile  detract  from 
its  harmony  and  beauty,  if  made  by  a  skilful  architect.  This 
is  the  first  building  on  the  College  Hill  that  showed  any  thing 
like  architectural  symmetry  and  effect,  except  the  President's 
house.  It  is  no  wonder  that  it  should  greatly  disturb  the 
ideas  of  a  man  whose  highest  notion  of  architectural  beauty 
is  a  right  angle  and  a  parallelepiped. 

The  improved  condition  of  the  College  gave  new  impulse 
to  its  friends  to  attempt  the  improvement  of  its  various  depart 
ments.  Among  other  wants  those  of  the  Library  attracted 
particular  attention.  As  early  as  1844,  Hon.  David  Sears 
made  an  effort  to  meet  this  want,  by  establishing  the  Sears 
Foundation  of  Literature  and  Benevolence,  and  though  for 
the  present  its  income  is  not  large,  yet  it  requires  $120  to  be 
annually  expended  in  the  purchase  of  books.  John  Tappan, 
Esq.,  also  gave  $1,000  about  the  same  time,  for  the  purchase 
of  books.  But  the  germ  of  the  greatest  effort  made  for  this 
object,  I  find  in  an  informal  meeting  of  a  few  friends  of  the 
College  from  Salem,  (Judges  Perkins  and  Huntington,  and 
Richard  P.  Waters,  Esq.,)  in  order  to  start  a  subscription. 
I  know  not  whether  George  Merriam,  Esq.,  knew  of  this 
effort,  when,  about  the  same  time,  he  subscribed  $1,500  for 
the  same  object.  Professor  B.  B.  Edwards  seized  upon  this 
offer,  and  brought  the  subject  before  the  Trustees  in  1850, 
who  directed  an  effort  to  be  made  to  procure  means  for  erect 
ing  a  library  building  and  increasing  the  number  of  books. 


62  REMINISCENCES  OF  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

Professors  Tyler  and  Jewett  acted  as  agents,  and  when  $15,000 
were  procured,  $10,000  were  devoted  to  the  building.  It  was 
planned  by  Mr.  Sykes,  begun  in  1852,  and  completed  and 
dedicated  in  1853,  when  an  Address  was  delivered  by 
Professor  E.  A.  Park.  A  sketch  of  it  was  given  in  the 
Annual  Catalogue  for  1852.  It  was  built  entirely  of  the 
beautiful,  unhewn  gneiss  of  Pelham.  This  was  the  first  time 
such  a  use  was  made  of  this  stone ;  but  it  was  subsequently 
employed  by  Professor  Tuckerman,  in  building  his  elegant 
private  mansion,  and  still  more  recently  in  the  Gymnasium. 

As  to  the  location  of  the  Library,  there  was  a  diversity  of 
opinion.  The  two  places  selected  by  different  parties  were 
that  on  which  the  Library  now  stands,  which  was  the  site 
of  the  residence  of  Rev.  Dr.  David  Parsons,  formerly  pastor 
of  the  village  church,  and  the  other  a  spot  north-east  of  the 
Woods  Cabinet,  towards  Williston  Hall.  Professor  B.  13. 
Edwards,  who  had  taken  a  prominent  part  in  the  whole 
enterprise,  was  decidedly  in  favor  of  the  Parsons  place.  But 
unfortunately  the  Trustees  had  sold  it,  and  could  not  repur 
chase  it  but  at  a  very  high  price.  Yet  Dr.  Edwards  would 
have  it  done.  Says  he,  in  a  private  letter,  "  You  will  pardon 
my  zeal  in  this  matter.  I  have  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the 
Library  and  in  the  Library  building,  and  have  had  my  heart 
set  on  living  to  see  a  neat  and  tasteful  edifice  on  the  Parsons 
estate,  the  only  good  locality.  Better  give  two  thousand 
dollars  for  that  property  and  invest  the  money  subscribed  for 
a  building  till  the  lot  would  be  paid  for  in  that  way."  Per 
sonally  I  felt  no  strong  bias  on  this  question,  though  I  saw 
that  Professor  Edwards'  view  was  probably  the  true  one,  and 
I  felt  that  great  deference  was  due  to  one  who  had  been  as  it 
were  the  soul  of  the  whole  enterprise.  It  was  finally  settled 
in  entire  accordance  with  Professor  Edwards'  opinions,  and  no 
one  I  presume  could  now  be  found  who  would  not  acknowl 
edge  that  the  location  is  admirable,  and  that  any  other  spot 
would  have  been  a  great  mistake. 


APPLETON    CABINET.  b6 

Though  the  new  Cabinet  and  the  old  one  in  the  College 
Chapel  building  afforded  room  for  very  many  specimens,  yet 
some  of  the  collections  appeared  to  great  disadvantage — some 
of  them  were  placed  in  different  rooms,  and  all  in  the  chapel 
were  peculiarly  exposed  to  fire.  Besides,  some  of  the  foot 
mark  specimens  were  too  large  for  any  of  our  rooms,  and  I 
felt  a  strong  desire  to  see  some  new  and  enlarged  means  for 
arranging  the  collections.  About  that  time  Hon.  Samuel 
Appleton  died  and  left  $200,000  to  be  disposed  of  by  bis 
executors  for  benevolent  and  scientific  objects.  Possibly  this 
might  be  such  an  object  as  he  had  in  mind.  I  therefore 
addressed  the  following  letter  to  the  executors  : — 

"  AMIIERST,  Nov.  25th,  1853. 

"To  the  Hon.  NATHAN  APPLETON  and  the  other  Executors  of  the 
Will  of  the  late  Hon.  Samuel  Appleton : 

"  GENTLEMEN, — I  have  hesitated  long  before  addressing  you,  lest 
I  should  seem  an  unwelcome  intruder.  But  at  length  I  venture  to 
lay  before  you  the  following  statement  as  briefly  as  possible. 

"From  several  quarters  I  have  learnt  that  the  late  Hon.  Samuel 
Appleton  has  left  in  your  hands  a  large  legacy  to  be  appropriated  to 
objects  of  benevolence,  of  science,  &c.  I  would  fain  hope  that  the 
following  case  may  have  some  claims  upon  your  consideration. 

"  tVhen  the  late  Professor  C.  B.  Adams  became  an  instructor  in 
Amherst  College,  he  presented  it  with  a  large  collection  in  Zoology, 
especially  of  shells,  whose  value  he  then  estimated  (in  1847)  at  five 
thousand  dollars.  From  that  time  to  the  day  of  his  death,  he  labored 
indefatigably  and  under  most  favorable  circumstances,  to  increase 
the  collection,  so  that  they  now  contain  400  species  of  vertebrated 
animals,  5,000  species  of  articulated  animals,  8, 000  species  of  shells, 
and  200  species  of  radiated  animals.  They  are  put  up  in  cases 
and  arranged  in  a  very  superior  manner  for  exhibition  and  study. 
Of  shells  I  believe  this  is  regarded  by  eminent  naturalists  as  the 
finest  in  the  United  States  ;  and  I  saw  but  few  in  Europe  superior. 
It  now  occupies  three  rooms  in  our  chapel  building.  This  building 
contains,  also,  a  chapel  room,  a  chemical  laboratory,  and  four  reci 
tation  and  lecture  rooms ;  so  that  in  fact  it  is  more  exposed  to  be 
burnt  down  than  almost  any  building  that  I  know  of.  Besides,  the 
rooms  are  widely  separated  from  one  another,  and  are  poorly 
adapted  to  an  exhibition  of  the  specimens  so  as  to  make  them 
accessible  to  scientific  gentlemen. 


64  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

"  Now  what  we  want  is  a  Zoological  Cabinet,  essentially  fire-proof, 
and  separated  from  all  buildings  exposed  to  fire ;  large  enough  to 
contain  all  the  collections  in  one  room,  with  a  lecture  room  attached. 
We  have  an  admirable  site  for  such  a  building,  near  the  spot  where 
stands  the  '  Lawrence  Observatory,'  and  the  '  Woods  Cabinet.' 
Moreover,  I  know  of  a  gentleman  who  will  give  two  thousand 
dollars  towards  such  an  object,  and  allow  any  other  person,  who  M'ill 
supply  the  other  four  or  five  thousand  dollars  necessary,  to  attach 
his  name  to  the  edifice.  I  should  hope,  after  conversing  with  an 
architect,  that  $G,000,  and  certainly  that  $7,000  would  be  sufficient  for 
the  purpose.  And  my  suggestion  is,  whether  this  may  not  be  such 
an  object  as  Mr.  Appleton  had  in  view  when  he  made  his  noble 
legacy.  He  was,  while  living,  a  benefactor  to  Amherst  College, 
having  given  $500  to  the  library  just  erected,  and  $500  to  com 
mence  the  endowment  of  an  Agricultural  Professorship.  But  it  is 
not  simply  or  mainly  as  a  benefaction  to  the  College,  that  I  venture 
to  ask  for  such  a  donation.  It  is  in  behalf  of  the  cause  of  science 
generally  in  this  country.  Whenever  large  collections  of  natural 
objects  of  any  kind  have  been  made  in  our  country,  at  great  sacri 
fice  of  time  and  money,  (this  has  cost  nearly  twenty  years  of  hard 
work,)  it  is  very  desirable  that  they  should  be  safely  preserved  and 
placed  in  a  situation  favorable  for  the  inspection  of  gentlemen  of 
science.  The  College  is  unable  at  present  to  do  this ;  having  only 
the  funds  necessary  to  carry  forward  the  ordinary  course  of  instruc 
tion.  How  appropriate  that  a  name  so  honored  as  that  of  Appleton, 
should  be  placed  upon  an  edifice  erected  for  such  a  purpose ! 

"I  beg  leave  to  state  another  consideration.  I  have  now  been 
nearly  twenty  years  engaged  in  collecting  fossil  footmarks,  and  have 
just  presented  the  whole  (value  from  $2,000  to  $3,000.)  to  the  Col 
lege.  As  a  consequence,  the  friends  of  science  have  furnished  me 
with  nearly  an  equal  sum,  with  which  to  purchase  new  specimens. 
This  has  been  done  to  a  large  extent.  But  my  geological  cabinet  is 
entirely  full,  and  it  needs  a  whole  room  devoted  to  the  footmarks. 
They  are  now  scattered  in  various  rooms,  and  out  of  doors.  If 
brought  together  they  would  form  a  point  of  great  interest  to  scien 
tific  men.  Such  a  room  might  easily  be  provided  in  the  basement 
story  of  a  Zoological  Cabinet,  with  almost  no  increase  of  expense. 

"  Being  desirous  of  presenting  other  testimony  than  my  opinion 
to  the  importance  of  this  object  to  the  cause  of  science,  I  requested 
that  of  Prof.  Agassiz  and  Dr.  Augustus  A.  Gould,  gentlemen  well 
acquainted  with  our  Cabinet  and  eminently  qualified  to  judge  of  its 


APPLETON   CABINET.  65 

value.    Extracts  from  their  answers  I  enclose;  and  beg  leave  to 
subscribe  myself, 

"  With  high  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

"  EDWARD  HITCHCOCK." 

This  letter  was  dated  Nov.  23,  1853,  and  though  I  learned 
that  it  was  looked  upon  favorably,  I  received  no  definite 
answer  till  Nov.  21st,  1854,  the  day  before  I  left  the  Presi 
dency.  Then  it  appeared  that  the  trustees  on  the  estate  had 
exceeded  my  request,  and  appropriated  $10,000  to  the  erec 
tion  of  an  APPLETON  ZOOLOGICAL  CABINET.  Mr.  Williston, 
Professor  Clark  and  myself,  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
have  charge  of  its  construction  and  erection,  and  we  employed 
Mr.  Sykes  as  the  architect.  The  trustees  on  the  estate  were 
Hon.  Nathan  Appleton,  Hon.  William  Appleton  and  N.  I. 
Bowditch,  Esq.,  gentlemen  well  known  for  their  enlarged 
appreciation  of  objects  of  public  utility. 

The  Appleton  Cabinet  was  erected  in  1855,  and  is  one 
hundred  and  ten  feet  long  and  forty-five  feet  wide,  two  stories 
high,  with  a  lecture  room  over  thirty  feet  square  attached. 
The  lower  room  is  an  Ichnological  and  the  upper  a  Zoological 
Cabinet.  As  the  lower  room  has  brick  walls  and  a  floor  of 
cement,  except  the  side  rooms,  it  is  as  near  a  fire  proof  build 
ing  as  is  consistent  with  the  presence  of  wooden  cases,  espe 
cially  in  the  upper  room,  and  a  wooden  floor.  It  has  also  a 
wooden  cornice,  which  might  take  fire  if  the  college  building 
north  of  it  were  to  burn.  I  have  urged  the  Trustees  to  guard 
some  of  these  points  more  carefully,  as  might  be  done  with 
little  expense,  and  I  hope  it  may  yet  be  done. 

Originally  it  was  intended  that  this  Cabinet  should  be 
placed  on  the  west  side  of  the  Woods  Cabinet,  where  danger 
from  fire  would  have  been  much  less.  The  building  commit 
tee  agreed  upon  this  spot,  but  their  opinion  was  overruled  by 
that  of  the  prudential  committee,  or  at  least  some  of  them,  on 
the  ground  that  the  appearance  would  be  unsightly.  I  plead 
for  that  place  as  the  site,  because  I  wanted  the  lecture  room 
near  where  the  cabinet  of  specimens  is.  Luke  Sweetser  said 


66  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

if  that  was  a  point  of  great  importance  he  would  attach  a 
lecture  room  to  the  Woods  Cabinet,  if  it  could  be  done  for 
$1,000.  On  that  ground  I  yielded  my  objections,  and  the 
Appleton  Cabinet  was  located  on  the  south  wing  of  the  dor 
mitories,  though  none  of  us  then  thought,  I  presume,  that  it 
would  there  be  more  exposed  to  fire.  Thus  the  change  of 
location  was  the  means  of  the  erection  of  the  Geological 
Lecture  Room. 

I  know  I  shall  be  believed,  when  I  speak  of  the  high  grat 
ification  I  experienced  in  being  able  to  announce  the  success 
ful  termination  of  my  efforts  to  erect  this  Cabinet,  in  my 
Valedictory  Address,  on  leaving  the  Presidency.  In  that 
address  I  had  written  thus :  "  To  secure  a  new  building  to 
receive  the  Zoological  collection,  with  the  still  more  exposed 
collection  of  fossil  footmarks,  has  long  been  with  me  an 
object  of  strong  desire  and  efforts ;  and  it  is  among  the  deep 
est  of  my  regrets  on  leaving  the  Presidency  that  it  remains 
unaccomplished."  The  scenes  of  such  an  occasion,  borne 
down  as  I  was  by  wretched  health,  would  be  of  course  sad 
dening.  But  how  kind  in  Providence  to  send  me  as  some 
offset  the  news  of  my  success  in  this  enterprise  only  a  few 
hours  before  I  was  formally  to  leave  the  Presidency,  that  I 
might  announce  it  in  a  postscript !  And  then  by  continuing 
my  connection  with  the  College,  I  could  have  the  almost 
entire  control  and  superintendence  of  the  new  building,  so  as 
to  plan  it  according  to  my  wishes  and  judgment.  We  made 
up  our  minds,  for  the  sake  of  securing  as  much  room  as  possi 
ble,  to  expend  the  ten  thousand  dollars  in  the  building  alone, 
leaving  the  cases  and  other  fixtures  to  be  otherwise  provided 
for.  In  the  lower  room  these  were  so  simple  as  to  cost  but 
little,  and  in  the  upper  room,  Hon.  S.  Williston  provided,  at 
no  small  expense,  for  the  wall  cases,  while  the  horizontal  ones 
had  already  been  prepared  by  the  College,  as  one  of  the  con 
ditions  on  which  Professor  Adams  presented  his  collections  to 
the  institution.  The  other  expenses  of  this  Cabinet  will  be 
noticed  in  another  place. 


NINEVEH  GALLERY.  67 

The  Geological  Lecture  Room,  already  referred  to,  was 
erected  rather  late  in  the  autumn  of  1855.  Mr.  Sweetser 
declined  having  his  name  affixed  to  it. 

The  Nineveh  Gallery,  like  the  Appleton  Cabinet,  was  built 
by  individual  liberality.  In  another  place  I  shall  describe  the 
manner  in  which  the  articles  it  contains  were  obtained.  But 
their  multiplication  rendered  some  distinct  rendezvous  impor 
tant.  My  mind  was  turned  towards  Enos  Dickinson,  Esq., 
of  South  Amherst,  whom  I  had  long  known  as  an  industrious 
and  substantial  farmer,  of  superior  intelligence  and  sound  judg 
ment,  of  firm  and  consistent  piety,  and  liberal  in  his  benefactions. 
It  so  happened  that  the  spot  where  I  wanted  to  erect  the 
Nineveh  Gallery  was  the  site  of  the  old  church  where  for  thirty 
years  he  had  attended  meeting,  where  he  was  baptized  and 
made  a  profession  of  religion,  and  he  remarked  that  if  he 
should  desire  to  leave  his  name  any  where  on  earth  that  would 
be  the  spot.  He  also  appreciated  the  object,  and  erected  the 
Gallery  in  1857,  at  an  expense,  including  the  frescoes,  of  $567. 
It  is  attached  to  the  Woods  Cabinet,  and  though  a  small 
room,  it  is  probably  as  large  as  the  original  passage  in  the 
palace  of  Nimroud  from  which  the  sculptured  slabs  were 
taken.  A  marble  slab  on  the  outside  contains  the  inscription, 
THE  DICKINSON  NINEVEH  GALLERY,  and  another  slab  on  the 
inside  the  names  of  all  the  donors  to  the  Gallery.  Similar 
slabs  have  been  placed  upon  and  within  all  the  rooms  of  the 
Cabinets,  both  to  give  a  name  for  each  to  the  visitor,  and  to 
let  posterity  know  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  the  means  of 
filling  them  with  specimens,  in  the  hope  that  others  in  time  to 
come  may  be  stimulated  to  go  and  do  likewise.  I  know  that 
some  benevolent  men  feel  a  little  sensitive  at  having  their 
beneficence  thus  engraved  in  marble.  But  for  such  an  object 
and  with  the  view  of  thus  doing  a  double  good  with  their  money, 
why  should  they  be  reluctant  to  have  the  simple  facts  stated  ? 

Our  next  public  buildings  were  the  result  of  a  calamity.  In 
the  winter  of  1857,  the  North  College  was  destroyed  by  fire, 
the  result  of  carelessness  in  a  student's  room.  Hon.  Samuel 


68  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

"Williston  at  once  offered  to  place  upon  its  site  an  edifice  three 
stories  high,  eighty  feet  by  forty,  the  lower  story  of  which 
should  be  a  chemical  laboratory ;  the  second  story  rooms  for 
two  literary  societies,  and  the  upper  story  an  alumnus  hall,  at 
an  expense  of  about  $15,000,  provided  the  Trustees  would 
at  once  proceed  to  erect  a  new  dormitory  building  at  the  same 
cost.  The  Trustees  accepted  the  offer  and  the  two  buildings 
were  erected  that  season,  viz.,  in  1857,  the  same  season  as  the 
Nineveh  Gallery.  The  former  were  formally  dedicated  the 
next  year  with  an  address  by  Rev.  H.  W.  Beecher.  There 
was  an  insurance  of  $5,000  only  on  the  building  burnt,  and 
towards  $5,000  more  were  obtained  by  subscription.  For  the 
third  $5,000  the  College  had  to  resort  to  borrowing.  The 
new  dormitory  contains  forty-eight  rooms  and  occupies  a 
commanding  site  on  the  east  side  of  the  college  grounds. 
The  other  building  was  called  and  is  labelled  WILLISTON  HALL, 
and  its  architectural  proportions  are  very  fine.  With  this 
building  on  the  north  and  the  Appleton  Cabinet  on  the  south, 
the  long,  unornamented,  cheerless  row  of  intervening  buildings 
is  greatly  relieved.  The  architect  of  Williston  Hall  was 
Charles  E.  Parkes,  of  Boston.  The  new  dormitory  building 
and  the  gymnasium  were  also  planned  by  him,  according  to 
correct  architectural  rules. 

Only  one  other  public  building  remains  to  be  described,  and 
that  is  the  gymnasium,  seventy  feet  by  fifty,  built  of  unhewn 
Pelham  gneiss.  It  is  massive  in  appearance,  without  much 
architectural  beauty,  though  in  conformity  with  architectural 
rules.  It  was  built  in  the  autumn  of  1859,  so  for  as  it  could 
be,  and  the  mortar  froze  badly.  But  the  walls  will  probably 
stand  many  years,  even  if  there  be  no  adhesive  power  in  the 
mortar.  The  expense  also  was  much  increased  by  the 
attempt  to  complete  the  building  in  1859.  Hence  what  might 
have  been  built  for  $8,000  or  $9,000,  cost  $10,000,  and  its 
completion  was  delayed  till  the  autumn  of  1860,  after  all. 
The  largest  subscription  was  by  Dr.  Benjamin  Barrett,  of 
Northampton,  viz.,  $1,000,  and  hence  the  building  is  called 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS   AND  THEIR  COST.  69 

the  BARRETT  GYMNASIUM.  Subscriptions  were  obtained  by 
Professor  TV.  S.  Clark,  Professor  W.  S.  Tyler,  and  some  others, 
to  the  amount  of  about  $5,000.  For  the  other  $5,000  the 
College  resorted  again  to  borrowing.  It  has  been  the  means, 
however,  of  introducing  a  new  department  into  the  College, 
which  has  been  called  that  of  Hygiene  and  Physical  Education, 
and  which  promises  to  be  decidedly  useful. 

Let  me  now  present  a  recapitulation  of  the  public  buildings 
that  have  been  erected  by  Amherst  College,  as  to  their  date 
and  cost. 

1820.— The  first  President's  House  cost,      ...        .say  $4,000  00 

1820.— South  College  (Dormitory,)  cost,     .'     „       .  10,00000 

1822.— Middle  College,  present  North  College,  .        .  10,000  00 

1827.— Chapel  Building, 15,000-00 

1828.— North  College, 10,000  00 

1834.— New  President's  House, 9,000  00 

1847. — Wood's  Cabinet  and  Lawrence  Observatory,  .  9,000  00 

1853.— Library  Building,      .        .-'      .     '  .       ..    '    ,  10,00000 

1855. — Appleton  Cabinet,     .        .        .        .        .  .'.    .  10,00000 

1855. — Geological  Lecture  Boom,        .      .  .  ....  ;:     .  ,  1,000  00 

1857.— Nineveh  Gallery,      .         ,        ..... f  567  00 

1857.— Williston  Hall,          .,       .        ...        .        .  15,00000 

1857.— East  College,     .        .         .        .,      ,        .'      .  15,00000 

I860. — Barrett  Gymnasium  and  fixtures,     .        .        .  15,00000 

$133,567  00 

It  thus  appears  that  over  $130,000  have  been  expended 
for  the  public  buildings  of  this  institution,  all  but  one  of  which 
(North  College)  are  now  standing.  The  fixtures,  such  as 
cases,  tables,  chairs,  &c.,  have  probably  cost  $10,000  more, 
paid  partly  by  the  College  and  partly  by  individual  benefac 
tors,  especially  Mr.  Williston. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  for  me  to  name  the  most  prominent  of  those 
mechanics  who  have  erected  the  College  Buildings.  Col.  Warren 
S.  Rowland,  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  has  now  labored  for  the  College 
more  than  forty  years.  The  two  President's  houses  he  built  by  con 
tract,  and  more  recently  the  Nineveh  Gallery,  and  has  had  a  part  in 
almost  all  the  buildings.  Mr.  Hiram  Johnson,  a  mason,  built  the 
Chapel  and  the  North  College.  The  more  recent  buildings — the 
Appleton  Cabinet,  Williston  Hall  and  East  College,  were  put  up  by 


70  REMINISCENCES   OF  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

George  P.  Shoals,  of  East  Hampton,  and  the  Gymnasium  by  R.  R. 
Myers,  of  Northampton.  The  library  was  built  by  its  architect, 
Henry  A.  Sykes,  on  contract. 

Perhaps  I  ought  also  to  state  a  few  facts  in  respect  to  the  other  lite 
rary  institutions  that  have  existed  in  Amherst.  The  Academy,  from 
which  the  College  sprung,  was  incorporated  in  1816,  and  has  always 
been  in  operation  till  within  a  year  or  two,  when  it  has  been  super 
seded  by  a  High  School,  for  which  a  large  and  tasteful  building  has 
been  erected  a  little  north  of  the  Gymnasium.  The  Academy  has 
accomplished  a  good  deal,  but  it  was  always  cramped  for  the  want 
of  funds,  and  it  is  doubtful  whether  it  will  ever  be  resuscitated. 

In  the  year  1825,  Martin  Thayer,  Esq.,  erected  an  elegant  private 
residence  on  Mount  Pleasant,  one  of  the  finest  spots  in  New  Eng 
land,  far  finer  than  its  flat  name  implies.  He  had  not  lived  there 
more  than  a  year,"  however,  before  his  amiable  wife  died,  and  he 
converted  the  building  into  a  Seminary  by  the  addition  of  two  large 
wings.  Here  Messrs.  Colton  and  Fellows,  graduates  of  the  College, 
opened  a  school  with  a  plan  analogous  to  that  of  the  German  Gym 
nasia.  It  flourished  for  a  time  wonderfully,  and  it  had  as  many 
instructors  as  the  College.  But,  like  most  similar  schools  in  this 
country,  it  soon  went  down  because  it  became  top-heavy :  that  is,  an 
influx  of  students  led  the  proprietors  to  make  more  outlays  for 
instruction  than  their  means  would  justify.  Subsequently,  however, 
the  Rev.  J.  A.  Nash  maintained  a  respectable  family  school  in  this 
spot,  which  is  continued  to  the  present  time  by  his  son,  Henry 
C.  Nash.  Both  these  gentlemen  were  graduates  of  the  College. 
Neither  the  Mount  Pleasant  Institution,  nor  the  Academy,  have 
furnished  a  large  number  of  recruits  for  the  College,  especially  of  late. 
The  fact  is,  it  is  not  well  that  students  should  fit  for  College  in  the 
country  town  where  it  is  located.  If  they  do  they  are  apt  to  form 
undesirable  acquaintances  in  the  College,  and  to  learn  so  much  of  it 
that  the  charm  of  novelty  is  broken.  Hence  I  have  always  advised 
parents,  even  those  who  reside  in  Amherst,  who  would  have  their 
sons  pass  through  Amherst  College,  to  send  them  somewhere  else 
for  preparation. 

In  18G2,  Dr.  W.  J.  Walker  offered  $20,000,  provided  others 
would  add  $20,000  more,  for  the  erection  of  a  new  hall  devoted  to 
the  uses  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy.  The  required 
$20,000  was  contributed  by  several  gentlemen,  (Williston,  Hitch 
cock,  etc.,)  and  at  Commencement,  in  1863,  the  Trustees  voted  to 
proceed  at  once  to  the  erection  of  the  building,  under  the  name  of 
WALKER  HALL.  They  also  appropriated  $10,000  for  remodelling 
and  repairing  the  Johnson  Chapel. 


THE  PHILOSOPHICAL  CABINET.  71 


SECTION     III. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  CABINETS,  LABORATORY  AND  LIBRARY. 
1.    THE  PHILOSOPHICAL  CABINET. 

The  apparatus  in  the  department  of  Natural  Philosophy,  for 
several  of  the  first  years  of  the  College,  was  totally  inadequate 
to  the  wants  of  the  department.  But  after  Professor  Hovey 
took  the  chair  of  Philosophy,  and  was  about  to  go  to  Europe, 
the  Trustees  in  1830  passed  the  following  resolution: — 
"Resolved,  That  immediate  measures  be  taken  to  raise  the 
sum  of  three  thousand  dollars  for  the  purpose  of  making  addi 
tions  to  the  philosophical  apparatus,  and  that  Professors  Hitch 
cock  and  Hovey  be  appointed  as  agents  to  procure  aid  of 
benevolent  individuals  for  this  object."  I  have  no  very 
distinct  recollections  about  this  agency :  but  somehow  or  other, 
the  money  was  obtained,  and  with  it  Professor  Hovey  pur 
chased,  chiefly  in  Paris,  of  Pixii,  a  large  part  of  the  apparatus 
still  in  use  in  the  philosophical  department.  Among  the  rest 
were  a  fine  Transit  Instrument  and  Astronomical  Clock, 
which  were  never  mounted  till  the  Astronomical  Observatory 
was  erected  in  1847.  A  fine  apparatus  room  or  cabinet  had 
been  provided  in  the  chapel  building,  with  a  lecture  room 
adjoining,  and  there  for  over  thirty  years  Professor  Snell  has 
had  a  watchful  care  of  the  instruments,  adding  a  great  many 
others,  either  by  purchase  or  by  his  own  manufacture,  so 
that  at  present  the  collection  is  very  complete,  containing 
instruments  of  research  as  well  as  demonstration.  Among 
the  larger  instruments  added  by  Professor  Snell  is  a  Repeat 
ing  Circle  and  one  of  Spencer's  best  Microscopes.  It  con 
tains  also  those  ingenious  instruments  of  his  own  contrivance 


72  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

and  construction  for  the  illustration  of  waves  in  air  and  water 
and  the  phenomena  of  polarization. 

At  the  dedication  of  the  Astronomical  Observatory  in  1848 
I  remarked,  that  "  we  should  be  very  faithless  and  ungrateful 
to  doubt  that  the  same  Providence  which  has  done  so  much 
for  us  the  past  year  will  send  us  a  fitting  telescope  if  it  be  best 
for  us  to  have  one,  and  send  it  too,  just  at  the  right  time."  In 
my  Valedictory  Address  in  1854  I  was  enabled  to  say,  "this 
prediction,  through  the  liberality  of  Hon.  Rufus  Bullock,  has 
been  fulfilled ;  and  a  noble  telescope  has  just  been  placed  in 
yonder  dome,  which  through  the  great  skill  and  indefatigable 
industry  of  Alvan  Clark,  Esq.,  who  has  constructed  it,  is  one 
of  the  finest  instruments  of  its  size  that  ever  graced  an  observ 
atory;  and  its  mounting  has  some  important  improvements 
never  before  introduced.  In  the  hands  of  Mr.  Clark  it  has 
already  introduced  to  the  astronomic  world  two  new  double 
stars  never  before  recognized ;  one  of  which  is  probably  binary. 
This  discovery  has  already  been  confirmed  and  acknowledged 
by  one  of  the  most  accomplished  observers  in  Great  Britain. 
May  we  not  hope  that  this  glass  will  perform  another  service 
for  science  by  stirring  up  some  generous  heart  to  endow  a 
professorship  of  astronomy  in  our  College  at  no  distant  day  ? 
This,  certainly,  is  at  present  one  of  the  most  pressing  wants 
of  the  institution." 

I  might  add  that  this  prediction  or  anticipation  has  also  been 
fulfilled  by  the  late  donation  of  Dr.  Walker,  to  endow  a 
professorship  of  mathematics  and  astronomy. 

2.     CHEMICAL  LABORATORY. 

I  have  already  given  some  idea  of  the  state  of  preparation 
in  the  College  for  chemical  experiments  when  I  joined  it.  Not 
only  was  I  obliged  to  lecture  in  the  fourth  story  and  in  a  sort 
of  chapel,  but  there  were  no  instruments  or  ingredients  worth 
naming  provided  by  those  who  preceded  me.  For  four  gentle 
men  had  lectured  on  that  subject  before  me,  viz. :  Col.  Rufus 
Graves,  Professor  Olds,  Professor  Amos  Eaton,  and  a  Mr. 


I 

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CHEMICAL   LABORATORY.  73 

Cotting,  who  was  afterwards  appointed  State  Geologist  in 
Georgia. 

I  must  have  given  at  least  two  fourth  story  courses  of 
lectures.  But  when  the  chapel  building  was  erected  in  1826, 
an  opportunity  was  presented  for  fitting  up  a  Laboratory. 
The  basement  story  at  the  east  end  was  mostly  above  ground 
with  cellar  rooms  adjoining.  I  had  ample  space  for  a  large 
lecture  room,  apparatus  room,  and  office,  and  means  enough 
were  furnished  for  supplying  economically  furnaces,  cisterns, 
gasometers,  and  apparatus.  The  only  difficulty  was  that  the 
room  was  beneath  all  the  others  and  partially  under  ground. 
But  at  that  time  the  idea  generally  was  that  such  was  the 
proper  place  for  a  laboratory.  Because  the  chemist  eliminates 
many  mephitic  gases,  therefore  place  him  where  he  cannot  get 
them  out  of  his  room ;  or  if  they  do  escape  through  the  ceiling 
they  will  let  all  in  the  rooms  above  him  get  a  whiff  of  the 
atmosphere  which  he  is  obliged  to  breathe  in  concentrated 
purity.  Nevertheless,  I  spent  at  least  a  third  of  my  time  for 
eighteen  years  in  that  laboratory,  and  found  it  in  most  respects 
very  convenient.  I  do  not  doubt  that  its  dampness  and  the 
unwholesome  gases  which  I  got  rid  of  only  by  opening  the 
doors  and  windows,  have  contributed  to  bring  on  and  aggravate 
those  pulmonary  and  bronchial  difficulties  that  now  press  so 
heavily  upon  me,  and  will  soon  terminate  my  days.  But 
probably  a  person  in  good  health  need  not  fear  active  employ 
ment  in  such  rooms.  I  have  found  analytical  chemistry  to  be 
more  trying  in  such  a  place  than  the  mere  preparation  for 
lectures,  because  the  former  requires  such  long  continued 
attention. 

When  Williston  Hall  was  built,  in  1857,  the  old  laboratory 
under  the  chapel  was  abandoned  and  a  new  one  fitted  up  with 
ample  space  and  with  all  the  fixtures  and  apparatus  found  in 
the  best  furnished  laboratories  of  Europe.  Professor  W.  S. 
Clarke,  liberally  furnished  with  means  by  his  father-in-law, 
lion.  S.  Williston,  even  went  to  Germany  to  procure  all  he 
deemed  important  for  demonstrative  and  analytical  chemistry. 
4 


74  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMIIERST   COLLEGE. 

Ample  provision  is  made  in  this  laboratory  for  accommodating 
students  in  analytical  chemistry  independent  of  the  lecture 
and  apparatus  and  furnace  rooms.  With  such  abundant 
means  it  will  need  only  chemical  ability,  industry  and  perse 
verance  to  make  this  laboratory  not  only  an  efficient  arm  of 
the  College,  but  an  important  means  of  advancing  the  science. 
The  old  laboratory  has  been  converted  partly  into  a  recitation 
room,  partly  into  a  lecture  room  for  Professor  Shepard  in 
mineralogy  and  applied  chemistry,  and  partly  into  his  office 
and  apparatus  room,  and  he  is  quite  satisfied  with  them. 

3.    NATURAL  HISTORY  CABINETS. 

When  I  came  here,  in  1826,  a  natural  history  society 
existed  among  the  students,  which  had  begun  to  bring 
together  specimens  chiefly  in  mineralogy,  geology  and 
mammalogy;  but  they  were  too  few  to  be  employed  in 
lecturing.  I  therefore  took  up  the  business  of  collecting.  I 
had,  however,  in  previous  years,  obtained  a  few  hundred 
specimens,  mostly  in  mineralogy  and  geology,  and  the  Trustees 
in  1826  "voted  that  Professor  Hitchcock  be  requested  to 
deposit  his  private  geological  cabinet  in  the  Cabinet  of  the  Col 
lege."  Previous  to  this  time,  I  believe,  the  Natural  History 
Society  had  presented  the  whole  or  a  part  of  their  collections,  so 
that  so  far  as  numbers  were  concerned,  our  cases  looked  quite 
respectable.  But  to  one  acquainted  with  natural  history, 
probably  the  larger  part  would  come  under  the  ironical  title 
of  Jactalites ;  that  is,  specimens  to  be  thrown  away.  How 
ever  they  did  a  very  good  service  so  long  as  no  better  collec 
tions  were  near.  And  it  is  a  fact  that  some  of  the  ablest 
naturalists  who  have  graduated  here,  (ex.  qr.  Shepard  and 
Adams,)  started  in  these  days  of  meagre  scientific  illustration. 
Their  fewness  led  such  men  to  study  what  we  had  with  more 
attention,  and  that  awakened  the  desire  to  see  and  possess 
more;  and  in  these  two  facts,  conjoined  with  good  native 
talent  and  scholarship,  you  have  the  elements  of  able  nat 
uralists. 


DONORS.  75 

In  1830  I  was  appointed  to  make  a  geological  survey  of 
Massacliu setts,  and  this  opened  a  door  for  the  introduction  of 
numerous  specimens.  The  Government,  indeed,  directed  that 
a  collection  of  the  rocks  and  minerals  of  the  State  of  moderate 
size  should  be  collected  for  each  of  the  colleges.  They 
amounted,  I  believe,  in  the  first  survey,  to  about  eight  hun 
dred.  I  also  collected  four  times  as  many  for  the  State 
Cabinet,  and  nearly  as  many  for  myself.  Having  deposited 
the  latter  in  the  Cabinet,  the  Trustees,  feeling  under  obliga 
tion  to  "Williston  Seminary,  or  rather  to  its  founder,  presented 
to  it  the  collection  of  eight  hundred  specimens. 

Another  way  which  has  been  a  prolific  one  of  increasing 
the  Cabinet  in  all  its  branches,  organic  and  inorganic,  is  by 
securing  the  help  of  the  graduates  of  the  College,  especially 
the  foreign  missionaries.  The  Zoological  Museum  has  in  this 
way  been  often  enriched.  But  in  the  Woods  Cabinet  is  a 
collection  of  rocks  and  minerals,  chiefly  from  Asia,  of  more 
than  twelve  hundred  specimens,  sent  in  a  great  measure  by 
missionaries,  or  by  men  on  missionary  ground.  Many  of  these 
specimens  possess  a  special  interest  from  the  sacred  localities 
from  which  they  came.  But  they  are  numerous  enough  from 
some  extensive  regions  to  give  a  tolerable  idea  of  the  geology : 
as  for  instance,  Syria  and  Palestine,  especially  Mount  Leba 
non,  Armenia,  and  the  north-west  part  of  Persia,  and  the 
Ghaut  Mountains  of  India.  They  have  been  sent  by  the 
following  gentlemen : — 

Rev.  Story  Hebard,  Syria. 
Rev.  Justin  Perkins,  D.  D.,  Ooroomiah,  Persia. 
Rev.  Benjamin  Schneider,  D.  D.,  Boorsa  and  Aintab. 
Rev.  Oliver  P.  Powers,  Central  Turkey. 
Rev.  Henry  J.  Van  Lennep,  D.  D.,  Smyrna  and  Constan 
tinople. 

Rev.  James  L.  Merrick,  Tabreez,  Persia. 

Rev.  Joel  S.  Everett,  Smyrna. 

Rev.  George  E.  Whiting,  Abeih,  Mt,  Lebanon. 


76  REMINISCENCES   OP    AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

Rev.  Daniel  Bliss,  Beyroot. 

Rev.  Orson  P.  Allen,  Eastern  Turkey. 

Rev.  David  T.  Stoddard,  Ooroomiah. 

Rev.  Henry  Lobdell,  M.  D.,  Mosul. 

Rev.  H.  B.  Morgan,  Antioch. 

Rev.  Henry  Homes,  Constantinople. 

Rev.  Pliny  Fisk,  Palestine. 

Rev.  Cyrus  Hamlin,  D.  D.,  Constantinople. 

Rev.  J.  I.  Robertson,  D.  D.,  Greece  and  Constantinople. 

Rev.  Daniel  Door,  D.  D.,  Ceylon. 

Nathan  Ward,  M.  D.,  Ceylon. 

Alexander  G.  Paspati,  Constantinople. 

Homan  Hallock,  Malta  and  Smyrna. 

Rev.  Elijah  Bridgman,  D.  D.,  Canton,  China. 

Rev.  Henry  Lyman,  Sumatra. 

Rev.  Ebenezer  Burgess,  Ahmednuggur  and  Sattarah. 

Rev.  Joseph  Goodrich,  Sandwich  Islands. 

Rev.  Ephraim  Spaulding,  Sandwich  Islands. 

Alonzo  Chapin,  M.  D.,  Sandwich  Islands. 

D.  I.  McGowan,  M.  D.,  China, 

The  above  are  all  missionaries.  Those  which  follow  were 
travellers,  mostly  on  missionary  ground : — 

Prof.  Nathan  "W.  Fiske,  in  Greece,  Syria  and  Palestine. 
Prof.  Edward  Robinson,  D.  D.,  in  Palestine. 
Prof.  Sylvester  Hovey,  in  Italy. 
Prof.  J.  A.  Richards,  in  Egypt.    • 

Sixteen  of  the  above  missionaries  were  graduates  of 
Amherst  College,  and  from  them  came  the  largest  amount 
of  specimens.  Mr.  Hebard  was  a  good  geologist  and 
furnished  a  large  collection  of  the  rocks  of  Mount  Lebanon. 
Mr.  Van  Lennep,  though  he  did  not  send  so  many  specimens, 
did  send  a  geological  map  of  the  region  around  Smyrna,  his 
native  place,  and  I  should  have  offered  it  to  the  scientific 


DONORS  TO   THE  CABINET.  77 

journals  had  not  the  English  geologists  so  recently  described 
that  region.  Mr.  Burgess  also  gave  a  paper  before  the 
American  Scientific  Association  on  the  geology  of  India  and 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  the  specimens  he  furnished  for 
our  Cabinet  are  numerous  and  fine.  But  no  one  made  such 
sacrifices  and  efforts  to  obtain  specimens  as  did  Dr.  Perkins 
in  his  various  journeys  across  Armenia  and  in  Persia,  as  the 
shelves  of  our  Cabinet  testify.  In  one  instance  he  brought 
on  a  fever  by  his  efforts  to  secure  specimens  from  the  top 
of  a  peak  of  the  Ararat  range,  and  when  other  means  of 
packing  specimens  failed,  he  employed  the  extra  articles 
of  his  wardrobe,  and  some  pairs  of  pantaloons  reached 
Amherst  thus  filled  with  rocks  instead  of  human  limbs,  and  I 
have  always  regretted  that  I  did  not  suspend  one  pair  in  the 
Cabinet  as  a  memento  of  zeal  and  perseverance  in  the  cause 
of  science  by  one  whose  zeal  for  the  salvation  of  men  was  a 
far  stronger  passion. 

I  cannot  likewise  but  refer  to  the  extraordinary  success  of 
Professor  Fiske  in  obtaining  not  less  than  two  hundred  speci 
mens  in  Syria  and  Palestine.  Before  leaving  this  country  he 
had  never  given  any  special  attention  to  these  subjects  or  felt 
in  them  any  special  interest.  But  when  he  reached  Syria  no 
naturalist  could  have  kept  his  eyes  more  widely  open  upon  the 
rocks  or  have  seized  upon  a  greater  variety  of  specimens  than 
he  did,  although  in  very  feeble  health.  His  labels  too  were 
unusually  full  and  graphic,  as  I  have  shown  by  copying  two 
of  them  in  another  place.  His  habits  of  thorough  investigation 
and  careful  attention  to  minutiae  was  finely  exhibited  and  show 
how  he  would  have  excelled  as  a  naturalist  had  circumstances 
led  him  to  make  natural  history  an  object  of  professional  pur 
suit.  Those  who  cherish  his  memory  will  look  with  melan 
choly  interest  upon  the  numerous  specimens  in  the  Cabinet 
from  Mount  Zion  collected  by  him  only  three  or  four  weeks 
before  he  was  himself  laid  there  near  the  tomb  of  David. 

Upon  the  decease  of  Prof.  Hovey  it  was  found  that  he  had  left  by 
will,  several  valuable  collections  to  the  College.  The  largest  con- 


78  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

sisted  of  several  thousand  specimens,  illustrating  1,000  species  of 
shells,  with  corals,  echinoderms,  £c.,  mainly  from  the  West  Indies. 
Another  was  made  up  of  225  specimens,  chiefly  fossil  shells  and 
wood  from  the  same  islands.  The  fossil  wood  was  from  Antigua, 
and  gives  a  fine  idea  of  such  petrifactions.  The  shells  are  mainly 
of  the  most  recent  kind  enveloped  in  marl.  These  came  into 
possession  of  the  College  in  1839. 

The  year  previously  Prof.  C.  U.  Shepard  had  presented  a  collec 
tion  of  the  rocks  and  minerals  of  Connecticut,  amounting  to  800 
specimens.  These  were  collected  during  his  survey  of  that  State  in 
connection  with  Dr.  Percival. 

But  though  in  this  way  numerous  specimens  might  come  into  pos 
session  of  the  College,  of  great  value,  yet  I  had  some  years  earlier 
felt  the  need  of  obtaining  some  funds  for  procuring  specimens  of 
fossils  and  rocks  from  Europe.  Having  increased  my  collection  of 
simple  minerals  to  nearly  2,000,  and  obtained  perhaps  1,000  speci 
mens  of  American  rocks  in  1836,  I  proposed  to  give  these  to  the 
College  provided  the  Trustees  would  appropriate  $1,000  to  be  ex 
pended  in  the  increase  of  the  Cabinet.  The  offer  was  accepted,  and 
it  was  "voted  that  the  Trustees  comply  with  Professor  Hitchcock's 
proposition,  and  place  one  thousand  dollars  at  the  disposal  of 
Prof.  Hitchcock  to  be  expended  by  him,  under  the  direction  of  the 
Prudential  Committee,  in  the  purchase  of  specimens  and  books 
in  Natural  History."  About  one-third  of  this  appropriation  was 
expended  in  1839,  in  procuring  the  following  collections  from 
Heidelberg  in  Germany : — 

A  collection  of  GOO  specimens  of  the  rocks  and  their  characteristic 
fossils  of  Continental  Europe,  embracing  the  entire  series  with 
printed  labels  in  German,  French  and  English.  This  is  a  very 
instructive  collection,  though  from  the  progress  of  geology  it  needs 
to  be  labelled  anew. 

An  economic  collection,  from  the  same  part  of  the  world,  of  300 
specimens,  embracing  a  large  part  of  the  rocks  and  minerals 
employed  in  the  arts,  with  most  of  the  ores  of  the  metals. 

A  collection  of  50  varieties  of  precious  stones,  embracing  not 
less  than  200  specimens,  a  large  part  of  which  are  cut  and  polished. 

These  collections  cost  a  little  over  $300,  or  about  one-third  of 
the  thousand  dollars  voted  by  the  Trustees.  But  the  financial 
embarrassments  of  the  College  were  becoming  more  and  more 
severe,  and  I  did  not  feel  justified  in  calling  for  the  remainder;  nor 
have  I  ever  done  it.  I  have  no  idea  on  that  account  of  declining  to 
fulfill  my  part  of  the  contract ;  though  I  hope  the  Trustees  uiay 


DONORS   TO   THE   CABINET.  79 

remember  it  should  the  time  come  when  some  very  desirable  acqui 
sition  of  specimens  might  need  their  special  help. 

Another  collection,  obtained  by  Prof.  Hovey,  in  Rome,  consists 
of  172  polished  square  pieces  of  alabasters,  antique  marbles,  porphy 
ries  and  granites,  imbedded  as  mosaic  in  black  and  white  marble. 
I  am  not  sure  whence  the  funds  were  obtained  for  this  purchase,  but 
think  they  came  from  the  College  treasury. 

Some  years  later,  I  obtained  from  Heidelberg,  in  Germany,  a 
collection  of  600  specimens  of  Organic  Remains,  extending  through 
the  entire  series  of  rocks,  all  named  and  very  instructive.  I  am  not 
sure  whether  this  collection  was  obtained  by  way  of  exchange  or 
paid  for  from  a  fund  in  my  hands  contributed  by  individuals  for 
obtaining  additions  to  the  Cabinet.  They  cost  about  $100. 

During  1853  and  1854,  I  obtained  the  following  collections  from 
M.  Krantz,  an  extensive  mineral  dealer  in  Bonn,  on  the  Rhine  : — 

100  specimens  of  fossils  from  the  Permian  Formation  and  Moun 
tain  Limestone. 

124  species  of  Coal  Plants  from  Silesia. 

50  species  of  Fossil  Fishes. 

Casts  of  the  bones  of  Mastodon,  Megalonyx,  Zeuglodon,  Igua- 
nodon,  Pterodactyle,  Plesiosaurus,  Mystriosaurus,  Holoptychius, 
Labyrinthodon,  Encrinites,  &c.,  &c. 

These  collections  cost  about  $200  besides  freight.  Of  this  sum, 
$84  was  furnished  by  the  fund  already  referred  to  as  in  my  hands, 
for  such  purposes.  The  remainder  was  met  by  specimens  of  min 
erals  and  footmarks  sent  from  my  private  duplicates  to  Mr.  Krantz. 

In  like  manner  I  obtained,  by  exchanges  with  Dr.  John  C. 
Warren,  of  Boston,  several  valuable  specimens,  for  example : 

All  that  remains  of  the  Tusks  of  the  great  Newburgh  Mastodon. 

Wooden  models  of  the  entire  Tusks. 

Plaster  cast  of  the  entire  head  of  a  small  Mastodon.     Price,  $50. 

In  1861,  I  deposited  in  the  Cabinet  the  following  casts  : 

The  head  of  a  Megatherium,  mounted. 

Small  Models  of  the  Iguanodon,  Megalosaurus,  Labyrinthodon, 
Pterodactyle,  Ichthyosaurus,  and  the  Plesiosaurus,  representing 
those  of  the  natural  size  lately  erected  in  the  Crystal  Palace,  in 
London. 

In  the  opening  of  1862,  we  received  the  head  (cast)  of  a  Deino- 
therium,  the  largest  of  quadrupeds,  which  cost  $100,  and  which  was 
presented  to  the  Cabinet  by  myself  and  Ephraim  Brown,  Esq.,  of 
Lowell,  each  of  us  having  contributed  an  equal  amount. 


80  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST    COLLEGE. 

The  sum  presented  for  the  purchase  of  footmarks  in  1863,  prov 
ing  more  than  sufficient  for  that  purpose  and  the  necessary  fixtures, 
I  suggested  to  some  of  the  donors  other  desirable  objects  to  which 
the  surplus  might  be  applied,  specially  casts  of  rare  animals. 
Among  them  are  two  fine  slabs  of  the  tracks  of  the  Cheirotherium. 
Then  comes  a  magnificent  specimen  of  the  head  of  a  Mososaurus. 
Others  arc  the  paddle  of  a  Pliosaurus,  a  Glyptodon,  heads  of  Arch- 
egosaurus,  Crocodilus  and  Cephalaspis,  Crioceras,  Paleotherium, 
Anoplotherium,  Sivatherium,  a  series  of  notable  Trilobites,  etc. 

Last  of  all,  we  have  the  promise  of  a  cast  of  the  Megatherium.  We 
had  for  years  been  aiming  at  such  an  acquisition  through  the  efforts 
of  Simeon  Brown  and  my  oldest  son.  But  we  failed,  until  last  March 
I  addressed  a  letter  to  Joshua  Bates,  Esq.,  the  eminent  London 
banker,  and  ere  long  received  the  following  gratifying  reply : — 

"  LONDON,  May  22,  1863. 

"Dear  Sir: — Your  letter  of  the  IGth  March  reached  me  in  due 
course.  I  was  not  aware  until  to-day,  that  it  had  been  so  long 
unanswered,  but  I  intended  from  the  moment  of  its  receipt,  to  send 
to  your  College  the  casts  of  the  Megatherium,  and  Prof.  Owen 
recommended  that  I  send  it  complete.  It  has  been  ordered,  and  in 
due  time  will  arrive  at  Boston,  and  I  have  great  pleasure  in  pre 
senting  it  to  your  College,  with  many  thanks  for  the  interesting 
contents  of  your  letter,  and  for  the  pleasure  I  have  had  in  reading 
your  books.  I  remain,  dear  sir,  very  truly  yours, 

"  JOSHUA  BATES." 

In  1847,  when  Professor  Adams  joined  us,  he  presented  to  the 
College  a  collection  of  2,200  specimens  of  the  rocks  and  minerals 
of  Vermont,  1,200  of  which  are  claystones.  Some  of  the  latter  are 
the  most  remarkable  ever  found.  But  few  fossils  are  in  this  collec 
tion,  Prof.  Adams  having  kept  them  back  for  names,  and  by  one 
mishap  and  another  they  never  reached  us.  My  son,  C.  H.  Hitch 
cock,  has  been  able  to  supply  this  deficiency  in  a  measure,  and  also 
to  add  several  hundred  other  specimens  collected  during  his  geolog 
ical  survey  of  Vermont,  whose  Keport  has  recently  been  published. 

Not  far  from  the  same  date,  Monsieur  E.  Desor,  a  French  geolo 
gist,  who  spent  some  years  in  this  country,  presented  the  College 
with  a  suite  of  the  fossil  shells  found  in  the  Paris  Basin,  as  it  is 
called,  amounting  to  124  species. 

From  other  individuals  we  have  received  valuable  specimens. 
For  example,  Prof.  E.  Daniels  of  Wisconsin,  sent  us  32  specimens 
of  the  rocks  of  Kansas ;  Major  David  Hoyt,  who  was  murdered  in 


ICHNOLOGICAL   CABINET.  81 

the  civil  wars  of  Kansas,  and  who  crossed  the  Rocky  Mountains 
with  Gov.  Stevens  on  a  railroad  survey,  forwarded  28  specimens 
from  the  Missouri  River,  among  the  Rocky  Mountains ;  the  Rev.  H. 
P.  Herrick  presented  60  specimens  of  Tertiary  Fossils  from  the 
western  coast  of  Africa,  under  the  equator;  Rev.  William  Walker 
sent  a  remarkable  specimen,  whether  concretion  or  fossil  I  cannot 
decide,  from  the  river  Nazareth,  in  Africa,  100  miles  from  its  mouth. 
These  cases  are  akin  to  many  others  that  were  noticed  when  giving 
an  account  of  the  missionary  collection  from  Asia  and  the  Sand 
wich  Islands. 

Some  of  the  College  classes  have  felt  a  desire  to  leave  some 
memento  in  rock,  (acre  perennius,}  which  should  remind  others  of 
their  existence  and  form  a  pleasant  quickener  of  reminiscences  at 
their  reunions  in  subsequent  years.  The  class  of  1857  performed 
the  Herculean  task  of  digging  up  and  transporting  a  bowlder  weigh 
ing  over  eight  tons  nearly  half  a  mile,  and  placing  it  in  front  of  the 
Woods  Cabinet.  It  is  so  unique  on  account  of  its  strise  that  I  gave 
a  description  of  it  in  the  American  Journal  of  Science. 

The  class  of  1859,  chose  a  large  slab  of  the  beautiful  serpentine 
of  Roxbury,  in  Vermont,  and  placed  their  name  upon  it  in  the 
vestibule  of  the  Woods  Cabinet. 

THE  ICHNOLOGICAL    CABINET. 

My  collection  of  fossil  footmarks  was  begun  in  1835. 
For  as  soon  as  I  had  turned  my  attention  to  Ichnology  I  com 
menced  the  accumulation  of  specimens,  and  from  that  day  to 
the  present  I  have  never  ceased  to  gather  in  all  which  I  could 
honestly  obtain.  For  no  other  part  of  the  cabinet  have  I 
labored  so  hard  or  encountered  so  many  difficulties.  True,  for 
some  years  at  first  I  had  the  field  essentially  to  myself,  and 
had  I  then  been  fully  aware  of  its  richness  and  extent,  I  might 
have  secured  a  large  amount  of  specimens  at  a  reasonable  rate. 
But  the  subject  opened  upon  me  gradually,  and  the  disclosures 
made  by  my  writings  attracted  others  into  the  field  who  became 
uncompromising  competitors  in  the  way  of  collecting,  and  with 
some  it  became  a  matter  of  trade.  The  consequence  was  that 
the  value  of  specimens  rose  to  almost  fabulous  prices.  The 
man  who  had  made  the  largest  collection  was  Dexter  Marsh, 
of  Greenfield,  who  was  himself  a  quarryman  and  had  the 
ambition,  as  he  told  me,  to  get  together  the  largest  collection 
4* 


82  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

in  the  world.  He  succeeded,  if  we  take  into  account  the 
quality  of  the  specimens.  But,  poor  man  !  he  died  before  his 
work  was  done,  having,  in  my  opinion,  hastened  his  decease  by 
excessive  labor  in  the  hot  sun  in  getting  out  beryls  and  other 
minerals.  His  executors  sold  his  collections  at  auction.  I 
.  knew  they  would  sell  high,  for  I  was  one  of  the  appraisers  and 
we  marked  them  high.  But  I  could  not  see  those  fine  speci 
mens  all  scattered  through  the  land  without  making  an  effort 
to  raise  some  money  to  secure  some  of  them,  and  I  adopted 
this  plan.  My  collection  of  footmarks  had  become  so  large 
that  in  the  opinion  of  so  good  a  judge  as  Professor  C.  U. 
Shepard  its  value  was  not  less  than  $3,500 ;  and  that  it  could 
be  disposed  of  for  at  least  $2,000  in  cash.  In  a  circular  to 
several  benevolent  gentlemen  I  offered  to  present  this  to  the 
College  if  others  would  furnish  me  with  six  or  seven  hundred 
dollars  with  which  to  secure  some  of  the  slabs  at  Marsh's 
auction.  It  so  happened,  or  rather  as  I  view  it  Providence  so 
ordered  it,  that  I  first  addressed  John  Tappan,  Esq.  He 
responded  by  a  subscription  of  $500.  To  this  extraordinary 
liberality  I  attribute  my  success  in  filling  up  the  present  large 
cabinet.  For  so  high  a  standard  had  imitators.  Hon.  David 
Sears  soon  added  another  $500 ;  Gerard  Hallock  followed 
with  $250,  Hon.  E.  P.  Prentice  with  $150,  and  several  other 
gentlemen  with  $100  each.  So  that  I  went  to  the  auction 
with  nearly  $2,000  in  my  pocket.  Moreover  the  stream  of 
benevolence  which  had  thus  been  diverted  into  this  channel 
did  not  cease  to  flow  with  the  Marsh  sale ;  but  almost  to  the 
present  day  new  and  liberal  increments  have  continued  to  be 
made  to  the  funds  in  my  hands  chiefly  devoted  to  footmarks ; 
so  that  they  have  risen  to  $3,800.  Among  the  donors  was  the 
widow  of  Hon.  Abbott  Lawrence  who  sent  me  $300,  although 
I  suggested  as  a  maximum  only  $100.  Had  Mr.  Tappan 
headed  the  subscription  with  $50 — and  I  could  not  reasonably 
have  expected  more — probably  I  should  have  been  compelled 
to  see  it  close  at  $500,  and  the  Ichnological  Cabinet  would 
have  been  a  meagre  affair  compared  with  what  it  now  is. 


SALE  OP  MARSH'S  FOOTMARKS.  83 

When  I  reached  Greenfield  to  attend  the  auction  in  Sep 
tember,  1853,  I  found  several  naturalists  there  from  Boston 
with  pockets  well  lined  who  came  with  the  intention — as  they 
had  a  right  to  do — to  take  the  whole  of  Mr.  Marsh's  collection 
for  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History.  I  told  them  that 
there  were  many  duplicates  in  the  collection,  enough  if  divided 
to  supply  both  the  College  and  their  Society.  But  if  they 
insisted  upon  monopolizing  the  whole,  I  had  made  up  my  mind, 
having  $2,000  on  hand,  to  be  very  benevolent  towards  the 
widow  by  compelling  them  to  pay  very  liberal  prices.  They 
seemed  to  feel  the  reasonableness  of  my  suggestions,  and  they 
found  as  I  stated  that  there  were  enough  specimens  for  us 
both.  My  bill  went  as  high  as  $700,  and  theirs  higher. 

Since  this  auction  I  have  continued  to  lay  out  large  sums 
in  the  purchase  of  footmarks.  To  Roswell  Field,  who  lives 
on  the  most  remarkable  known  locality,  and  has  disinterred 
more  tracks  than  any  other  man,  I  have  paid  not  far  from 
$4,000.  His  prices  have  indeed  been  generally  high,  but 
when  the  specimen  was  unique,  I  must  give  him  what  he 
asked,  or  leave  it  for  some  one  else ;  and  Mr.  Field  has,  in  at 
least  two  cases,  presented  specimens  to  the  Cabinet  which  I 
have  estimated  at  $300. 

To  persons  not  familiar  with  the  value  of  natural  history 
specimens,  the  idea  of  giving  $150  for  a  broken  slab  of  stone 
a  few  feet  square,  (I  have  several  specimens  that  cost  me  that 
sum,)  seems  extravagance  and  folly.  I  may  mention  an  anec 
dote  in  point.  After  the  auction  at  Greenfield,  I  employed  a 
wagoner  to  transport  my  specimens  to  the  railroad.  I  hap 
pened  to  be  a  little  out  of  sight,  and  heard  him  describing  to 
a  citizen  standing  by  the  sums  I  had  paid  for  them.  "  The 
man,"  said  the  citizen,  "who  will  waste  money  like  that, 
should  have  a  guardian  placed  over  him."  I  could  not 
restrain  a  loud  laugh,  which  brought  us  into  conversation, 
when  I  said,  "  you  will  at  least  acknowledge  that  my  insane 
prodigality  is  a  good  thing  for  Mrs.  Marsh." 

I  must  acknowledge,  however,  that  in  no  enterprise  in  my 


84  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

life  have  I  been  obliged  to  work  so  hard,  and  exercise  so 
much  strategic  skill  to  avoid  paying  exorbitant  prices,  and 
even  being  defeated,  as  in  the  collection  of  this  Jchnological 
Cabinet.  The  high  prices  paid  at  the  auction  (one  slab  sold 
for  $375,)  produced  an  impression  of  the  great  value  of  these 
relics  throughout  the  Valley,  and  exorbitant  prices  were 
attached  to  them  wherever  found.  But  very  few,  however, 
knew  enough  about  the  different  kinds  to  distinguish  the  rare 
and  valuable  ones.  But  since  I  had  studied  them  all,  I  found 
that  whenever  I  expressed  any  particular  interest  in  a  speci 
men  the  presumption  was  that  it  was  rare,  and  the  price  went 
up  accordingly.  I  was  obliged,  therefore,  to  exercise  a  good 
deal  of  prudence,  and  show  much  sang  froid,  or  I  could  not, 
with  my  small  means,  make  much  headway.  I  worked  as 
quietly  as  possible,  with  my  plans  locked  up  in  my  own 
bosom,  yet  with  inflexible  resolution  and  perseverance,  looking 
constantly  to  God  for  help.  I  felt  that  such  a  collection  would 
illustrate  a  curious  chapter  of  His  Providence  towards  our 
globe,  and  that  the  larger  the  collection,  the  more  full  the 
illustration.  I  expected  myself  to  make  only  a  beginning; 
but  I  wanted  to  provide  the  means  for  my  successors  to  carry 
forward  the  work  which  they  never  could  do  if  the  specimens 
are  scattered  all  over  the  world,  or  rather  if  all  the  varieties 
are  not  found  in  some  one  cabinet.  Large  as  the  collection 
now  is,  I  have  been  often  pained  to  see  very  fine  specimens 
taken  out  of  my  hands  by  those  who  could  pay  more  for  them 
than  I  could,  and  carried,  I  know  not  whither. 

In  such  circumstances,  I  have  tried  to  be  as  economical  as 
possible  in  the  use  of  the  money  in  my  hands  for  this  purpose. 
Whenever  I  could,  I  have  myself  gone  to  the  quarries  and 
dug  out  the  specimens.  When  not  too  large,  also,  I  have 
transported  them  on  my  own  business  wagon.  Again  and 
again,  have  I  entered  Amherst  upon  such  a  load,  generally, 
however,  preferring  not  to  arrive  till  evening,  because,  espe 
cially  of  late,  such  manual  labor  is  regarded  by  many  as  not 
comporting  with  the  dignity  of  a  professor.  I  have  not, 


INCIDENTS.  85 

however,  in  general,  paid  much  attention  to  such  a  feeling, 
except  to  be  pained  by  seeing  it  increase,  because  its  preva 
lence  would  change  the  character  of  the  College,  by  driving 
away  those  who  are  obliged  to  do  their  own  work. 

During  these  twenty-six  years'  experience  in  gathering 
these  footmarks,  I  have  met  some  very  unique  examples  of 
human  nature.  While  some  of  my  countrymen  in  the  lower 
classes  of  society  have  shown  a  shrewdness  and  generosity 
that  made  me  feel  proud  of  New  England,  others  have  exhib 
ited  a  selfishness  and  meanness  that  made  me  exclaim,  par- 
vurn  parva  decent.  For  instance,  suppose  on  your  arrival  at 
a  locality  of  footmarks,  one  had  preceded  you  with  whom 
you  were  on  friendly  terms,  but  who  was  so  anxious  to  pre 
vent  your  obtaining  any  specimens,  that  he  had  mutilated  the 
good  ones  that  were  accessible,  which  he  had  not  time  to 
remove  !  Alas,  if  I  had  not  known  this  vandalism  practiced 
several  times  by  professedly  respectable  naturalists,  I  should 
not  mention  it. 

Some  of  my  experiences  have  been  quite  amusing.  Having 
found  some  impressions  which  I  called  tracks  (Harpagopus 
Hudsonius)  in  the  sidewalks  of  Greenwich  Street,  in  New 
York  city,  I  requested  a  moulder  to  take  a  plaster  cast  of 
them,  which  he  did.  But  on  going  to  the  spot  again  some 
hours  later,  I  was  told  that  some  one  else  had  meantime  taken 
casts  of  them  !  although  he  could  not  have  known  that  they 
were  of  any  value ;  but  it  shows  how  prone  men  are  to  follow 
an  example.  A  large  crowd  had  gathered  when  I  took  the 
first  cast,  and  I  was  told  afterwards  that  all  which  saved  me 
from  being  voted  a  fit  subject  for  a  lunatic  asylum,  was  the 
testimony  of  a  young  lady,  in  one  of  the  adjoining  houses, 
who  had  attended  my  lectures  on  geology  at  Amherst,  and 
who  testified  that  I  was  no  more  deranged  than  such  men 
usually  are 

"  Are  you  finding  gold  there  ? "  was,  perhaps,  the  most 
usual  inquiry  when  men  saw  me  breaking  rocks.  "  No,"  said 
I,  to  a  wagoner,  one  day,  "  I  am  getting  some  of  these  curious 


86  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

impressions,  which  are  evidently  the  tracks  of  animals,"  at 
the  same  time  handing  him  a  specimen.  Looking  at  it  a 
moment,  he  cast  it  indignantly  from  him,  exclaiming,  "  Poll ! 
is  that  all?"  and  passed  on.  Repeating  the  experiment 
shortly  after,  with  another  man,  he,  after  looking  some  time 
attentively  at  the  specimen,  exclaimed,  "  Well  I  vum !  that 
ar  is  kinder  cute,  aint  it  ?  " 

But  though  this  has  been  a  laborious  work,  it  has  been 
intensely  interesting.  It  was  emphatically  a  new  field,  and 
every  step  I  had  to  feel  my  way  where  no  one  had  gone 
before  me ;  but  as  I  pried  open,  one  after  another,  the  folded 
leaves  of  this  ancient  record,  it  revealed  a  marvellous  history 
of  the  ancient  Fauna  of  this  Valley.  It  was  a  new  branch 
of  Paleontology,  whose  title-page  had  scarcely  been  written 
in  Europe,  but  I  had  stuTnbled  upon  materials  enough  almost 
to  fill  the  volume.  Up  to  this  hour  I  have  been  trying  to 
spell  out  the  hieroglyphics;  and  even  now,  I  presume  the 
work  is  only  begun.  Success  to  those  who  come  after  me, 
and  may  they  find  in  the  cabinet  which  I  leave  them  many 
curious  archives  which  they  shall  decipher. 

It  is  well  known  that  the  pleasure  of  these  investigations  has  been 
marred  by  painful  controversy.  After  groping  my  way  alone  and 
unaided  for  many  years  it  was  the  last  thing  I  should  have  appre 
hended  that  my  claims  to  the  original  investigation  of  the  footmarks 
should  be  denied.  I  claimed  not  that  I  first  found  them,  but  only 
that  I  first  scientifically  investigated  and  described  them.  This, 
according  to  Paley  in  his  Moral  Philosophy,  would  make  me  the  dis 
coverer  ;  for  he  says,  "  he  alone  discovers  who  proves."  (Book  V.) 
But  I  never  claimed  to  be  the  discoverer  unless  in  this  sense.  I 
shall  not,  however,  go  into  the  argument  here  as  I  have  done  else 
where.  (See  "  Ichnology  of  New  England,"  page  191,  also  "  Spring 
field  Republican  "  for  May  14th  and  21st,  1 859.)  But  perhaps  I  ought 
in  justice  to  others  as  well  as  myself  to  put  down  certain  facts 
which  probably  will  be  denied  by  none  now  that  the  controversy  has 
subsided. 

The  first  tracks  in  stone  noticed  anywhere  on  the  globe,  so  far  as 
we  know,  were  ploughed  up  by  Pliny  Moody,  in  South  Iladley,  in 
1802,  while  a  boy.  This  slab  is  now  in  our  collection,  (No.  Jjf.) 


HISTORY  OF   FOOTMARKS.  87 

But  though  the  impressions  were  then  spoken  of  as  the  "  tracks  of 
poultry"  or  "of  Noah's  Raven,"  no  account  of  them  was  given  to  the 
public  nor  the  attention  of  any  scientific  men  called  to  them,  and  it 
was  only  after  J  had  been  for  some  time  investigating  the  subject 
that  I  accidentally  learnt  of  the  existence  of  this  slab.  But  it  was 
undoubtedly  dug  up  earlier  than  any  fossil  footmark  on  the  globe 
that  has  been  preserved. 

The  first  scientific  account  of  fossil  footmarks  was  given  by  Rev. 
Dr.  Duncan  of  Edinburgh,  in  1828,  viz.,  of  some  at  Annan/Iale  in 
Scotland. 

In  1831  by  Mr.  Scrope  in  England,  and  in  1834  in  Germany  by 
Prof.  Kaup,  tracks  were  described. 

In  183G,  in  the  January  number  of  the  "American  Journal  of 
Science  and  the  Arts,"  I  described  seven  species  of  the  tracks  in  the 
Connecticut  Valley.  These  were  brought  into  notice  as  follows  : — 

In  March,  1835,  Mr.  W.  W.  Draper,  of  Greenfield,  walking  home 
from  church  with  his  wife  noticed  on  some  slabs  of  flagging  stone 
lying  by  the  sidewalk,  impressions  which  he  thus  described  to  Wm. 
Wilson,  in  front  of  whose  house  the  slabs  lay,  "here  are  some  tur 
key  tracks  made  3,000  years  ago."  Mr.  Wilson  soon  after  showed 
them  to  Dr.  Deane,  who  described  them  to  me  by  letter  the  same 
week,  as  "  the  tracks  of  a  turkey  in  relief,"  and  showed  a  correct 
appreciation  of  their  nature  and  value. 

In  the  six  following  years  I  brought  out  five  papers  in  the  jour 
nals,  containing  over  a  hundred  pages  and  26  plates,  describing  32 
species,  including  my  first  paper,  before  any  one  else  had  described 
one  species,  and  before  they  had  scarcely  been  noticed  by  any  other 
writer. 

With  some  noble  exceptions,  such  as  Professors  Silliman  and 
Buckland,  the  views  which  I  advanced  in  my  first  paper  in  1836, 
were  received  with  great  scepticism  by  scientific  men  and  others  on 
both  sides  of  the  Atlantic.  So  it  continued  for  several  years.  The 
State  Geologists  of  New  York,  for  instance,  contended  that  these 
impressions  were  probably  fucoids  and  not  tracks.  But  in  1841, 
five  eminent  geologists  who  had  been  appointed  by  the  American 
Scientific  Association  to  examine  the  subject,  reported  that  "the 
evidence  entirely  favors  the  views  of  Professor  Hitchcock."  A  few 
years  more  and  there  was  a  general  acquiescence  in  those  views. 
Nor  was  it  till  the  tide  had  turned  that  any  one  sought  to  share  the 
honor  or  the  odium. 

Up  to  this  time,  (1862,)  I  have  published  about  550  pages — 360  of 
them  quarto — with  116  plates  on  the  Ichnology  of  the  Connecticut, 


88  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHEBST   COLLEGE. 

in  eleven  communications  in  the  "  American  Journal  of  Science,"  one 
in  the  "Transactions  of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences," 
and  two  Reports  to  the  Government  of  Massachusetts.  In  my  first 
paper  I  described  seven  species  ;  in  my  Final  Report  on  the  Geology 
of  Massachusetts,  27  species ;  in  my  paper  before  the  American 
Academy,  52  species ;  and  in  my  Report  on  the  Ichnology  of  New- 
England  in  1858,  one  hundred  and  nineteen  species.  Whatever  be 
the  merits  of  this  last  work,  its  publication  in  such  good  style  by 
the  Government,  is  a  noble  testimony  to  the  liberality  of  the  State 
towards  science.  I  distinctly  informed  the  Legislature  that  it  was 
merely  a  matter  of  science,  yet  they  ordered  its  publication  without 
reading  it  ?  Is  there  any  other  State  in  the  Union  that  would  have 
done  it  ?  Which  of  them  would  not  have  felt,  when  offered  a  man 
uscript  on  Ichnology,  as  did  the  French  Government  when  the 
friends  of  the  Abbe  Hauy  interceded  with  them  to  help  him. 
"There  is  no  connection,"  said  they,  "between  the  public  contribu 
tions  and  Crystallography."  But  whoever  would  see  how  this  deed 
of  Massachusetts  is  viewed  in  Europe,  let  him  read  the  review  of 
my  Ichnology  in  the  "North  British  Review." 

A  few  weeks  ago  (June,  1863,)  I  laid  before  the  American  Acad 
emy  of  Arts  and  Sciences  a  Supplement  to  the  Ichnology  of  New 
England  which  makes  58  foolscap  pages  of  manuscript,  with  XVIII. 
quarto  plates,  and  a  description  of  36  new  species.  The  Academy 
allowed  me  to  publish  the  last  11  pages  of  this  communication  in 
the  American  Journal  of  Science  for  July,  1863. 

The  following  list  will  show  to  whom  the  Iclmologic.il 
Cabinet  is  indebted,  and  how  much,  up  to  18G1.  I  put  down 
half  the  sum  given  to  the  building  as  this  cabinet  occupies  its 
lower  half. 

Hon.  Samuel  Appleton,  for  half  the  building,       .        .  $5,000  00 

Edward  Hitchcock,  in  specimens,          .        .        .        .  2,000  00 

John  Tappan,  Esq.,        .......  500  00 

Hon.  David  Sears,          .......  500  00 

Mrs.  Abbot  Lawrence,    .        .        .        .        .        .        .  300  00 

Roswell  Field,  Esq.,  in  specimens,         ....  300  00 

Gerard  Hallock,  Esq.,  (N.  Y.,)      .....  250  00 

William  Miles,  Esq.,  (N.  Y.,)        .        ,        ...  200  00 

Hon.  E.  P.  Prentice,  (Albany,)      .        .        .        ;        .  150  00 

John  Clarke,  Esq.,  (Northampton,)                ;  100  00 

Hon.  Edward  Dickinson,  (Amherst,)     ....  100  00 

William  Dickinson,  Esq.,  (Worcester,)         ...  100  00 


DONORS  TO   THE  •  FOOTMARKS.  89 

John  M.  Doubleday,  Esq.,  (N.  Y.,)       ....  $100  00 

James  H.  Welles,  Esq.,  (N.  Y.,) 100  00 

Hon.  Jonathan  Phillips,  (Boston,)         .         ...  50  00 

lion.  Samuel  Williston, 50  00 

Hon.  Albert  H.  Porter,  (Niagara  Falls,)       .        .        .  5000 

Prof.  Edward  Tuckerman, 50  00 

George  Merriam,  Esq.,  (Springfield,)  .         .         .        .  50  00 

Hon.  John  C.  Gray,  (Boston,)       .         .         .         ..."  25  00 

Dr.  Nathan  Allen,  (Lowell,)          .        .        .        .        .    .  25  00 

William  Ropes,  Esq.,  (Boston,)    .         .         ...  25  00 

Hon.  Horatio  G.  Knight,  (Easthampton,)               I        .  25  00 

J.  P.  Williston,  Esq.,  (Northampton,)  ...        .  25  00 

Edward  Barrett,  (Northampton,)  .         .        .  •'      .    •     .'  2500 

Gilbert  A.  Smith,  Esq.,  (S.  Hadley,)  in  specimens,       .  25  00 

Pliny  Moody,  Esq.,  (S.  Hadley,)  in  specimens,     .  25  00 

Kev.  Plinius  Moody,  (S.  Hadley,)  in  specimens,  .        .  25  00 

$10,175  00 

To  the  above  ought  to  be  added  several  hundred  dollars 
devoted  to  this  object  from  the  Natural  History  Fund  of  the 
College,  and  about  $50  worth  of  Reports  on  Iclmology  which 
I  promised  and  gave  to  donors,  so  that  the  cost  of  the  building 
and  cabinet  cannot  be  less  than  $11,000.  It  is  a  noble  list. 
For  though  it  has  cost  me  a  large  amount  of  effort,  yet  no 
labor  could  have  succeeded  if  I  had  not  had  remarkable 
materials  to  work  upon. 

Excepting  the  few  hundred  dollars  from  the  Natural  His 
tory  Fund  (how  much  of  which  has  been  expended  for  this 
object  I  am  unable  to  say  exactly)  the  Ichnological  Cabinet 
has  cost  the  College  only  about  $140,  which  were  appropriated 
for  tables — the  upright  glazed  cases  being  the  old  cast-off  ones 
from  the  Natural  History  Rooms.  And  yet  this  is  the  col 
lection  that  most  attracts  the  attention  of  visitors,  because 
there  is  none  like  it  in  any  part  of  the  world. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  present  war  I  supposed  any 
efforts  to  increase  the  Ichnological  Cabinet  would  be  of  no 
avail ;  and  that  I  should  never  be  instrumental  in  adding  any 
thing  more  to  that  collection.  But  Providence  has  ordered 
otherwise.  A  fine  collection  of  tracks  was  offered  me  by  Mr. 


90 


REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 


Field,  before  the  war,  for  $2,000.  The  next  year  he  came 
down  to  $1,000,  and  the  last  year  to  $800.  Hon.  Josiah  B. 
Woods  offered  to  be  one  of  eight  to  raise  this  sum.  I  wrote 
numerous  letters,  and  during  the  last  winter  not  only  obtained 
the  $800,  but  $400  in  addition ;  with  which  I  not  only  pur 
chased  the  collection  containing  from  8,000  to  10,000  individ 
ual  tracks,  but  was  able  to  put  up  all  the  necessary  cases  and 
fixtures  in  a  new  room  never  before  used  for  this  purpose, 
without  any  call  upon  the  College  treasury.  And  I  have 
lived  to  see  the  walls  of  this  new  room,  the  north-west  corner 
room  of  the  Appleton  Cabinet,  entirely  covered  with  specimens ; 
a  result  almost  as  marvellous  to  me  as  a  miracle.  Moreover, 
this  addition  has  enabled  me  to  make  discoveries  in  Ichnology 
of  great  importance.  I  record  with  pleasure  the  names  of  the 
benevolent  gentlemen  who  have  furnished  the  means  for  this 
work. 


Chester    W.    Chapin, 

Esq.,         .         .         .  $300  00 

Fred.  I).  Allen,  Esq.,  .  150  00 

Hon.  G.  H.  Gilbert,    .  125  00 

Hon.  J.  B.  Woods,      .  100  00 

Hon.  David  Sears,       .  100  00 

Hon.  Sam'l  Williston,  100  00 

Enos  Dickinson,  Esq.,  75  00 


John  Tappan,  Esq.,     .       $50  00 

J.  P.  Williston,  Esq.,.  50  00 

E.  H.  Sawyer,  Esq.,    .  50  00 

John  B.  Gough,  Esq.,  25  00 

Gen.  W.  Williams,      .  25  00 

Hon.  Eliphalet Williams,  25  00 
A. Lyman Williston, Esq.,    25  00 


THE  ZOOLOGICAL  CABINET. 

Previous  to  the  year  1839  the  collections  in  Zoology  in  the 
College  were  meagre.  I  had  a  few  hundred  shells  showing 
most  of  the  Linnean  genera,  and  had  gathered  together  a  few 
hundred  specimens  in  the  other  departments  of  the  subject. 
In  1839  we  came  into  possession  of  Professor  Hovey's  legacy, 
which  contained  1,000  species  of  shells  and  some  good  corals. 
Dr.  Blodget,  of  Key  West,  had  also  presented  us  with  a  great 
variety  of  sponges  and  sea  fans,  so  that  I  was  able  to  give  the 
classes  a  tolerable  idea  of  all  the  great  classes  and  orders  of 
the  animal  kingdom.  But  when  Professor  Adams  joined  us 
in  1847  he  brought  so  much  larger  collections  as  to  cast  all 


PROFESSOR  ADAMS.  91 

the  others  into  the  shade,  and  ere  long  they  all  were  absorbed 
in  his,  but  whether  the  original  specimens  can  now  be  distin 
guished  I  do  not  know. 

PROF.  CHARLES   B.  ADAMS. 

Professor  Charles  B.  Adams,  a  native  of  Dorchester,  came 
to  Amherst  College  from  Yale  College,  and  joined  the  Sopho 
more  Class  in  1831.  He  graduated  in  1834  with  the  highest 
honors.  While  attending  my  lectures  he  became  decidedly 
interested  in  natural  history,  and  went  into  it  with  an  energy 
and  a  zest  that  made  it  the  business  of  his  life.  The  first 
circumstance  that  made  me  acquainted  with  his  predelictions 
was  his  bringing  to  me  a  very  complete  Pantological  Chart, 
showing  a  very  extended  knowledge  of  the  different  branches 
of  knowledge.  It  produced  in  my  mind  at  once  a  hopeful 
augury  of  his  future  eminence.  I  saw  that  he  would  be 
something  more  than  a  mere  collector.  He  would  not  be  sat 
isfied  till  he  had  traced  out  the  relations  of  the  natural  objects 
he  met.  And  it  has  happened  that  in  all  his  publications  he 
has  shown  a  remarkable  power  of  classification. 

In  1836,  Professor  Adams  was  called  to  a  tutorship  in 
Amherst  College.  I  selected  him,  also,  as  my  assistant  in 
Chemistry,  and  never  had  a  more  able  one.  Having  soon 
after,  myself,  accepted  an  appointment  as  Geologist  to  the 
First  District  of  New  York,  I  secured  his  services  as  my 
assistant,  and  we  commenced  our  explorations  in  Duchess 
County.  But  the  magnitude  of  the  undertaking,  my  feeble 
health,  and  a  desire  to  do  something  more  in  Massachusetts, 
led  me  to  resign  the  New  York  survey,  and  of  course  Pro 
fessor  Adams  withdrew  also.  Some  time  after,  I  had  an 
Opportunity  to  recommend  him  strongly  as  Professor  of  Chem 
istry  and  Natural  History,  to  a  new  college,  which  was  started 
with  much  eclat  in  Missouri,  I  believe  by  Rev.  Dr.  Ely,  of 
Philadelphia.  He  went  there,  and  after  laboring  hard  for 
some  time,  was  starved  out,  and  had  to  send  to  his  father  in 
Boston,  to  get  money  enough  to  bear  his  expenses  back. 
Some  time  after,  he  accepted  the  chair  of  Chemistry  and 


92  REMINISCENCES  OP   AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

Natural  History  in  Middlebury  College.  While  there  he  was 
appointed  State  Geologist  of  Vermont.  He  entered  upon 
that  work  in  1845,  and  continued  in  the  office  till  his  death, 
in  1852.  He  published  four  Annual  Reports,  making  four 
hundred  pages,  which  exhibited  his  characteristic  ability.  But 
in  consequence  of  some  diversity  of  views  between  him  and 
the  Legislature  on  pecuniary  matters,  his  Final  Report  was 
never  called  for  or  prepared,  and  most  of  the  benefits  of  the 
survey  were  lost ;  and  not  long  after  his  death,  the  entire 
collection  of  specimens  made  by  him  were  burnt  up  with  the 
State  House.  After  Professor  Adams'  death,  the  survey  was 
committed  to  Professor  Thompson,  who  also  died  soon,  with 
out  leaving  any  Report.  He  was  succeeded  by  Judge  Young, 
who  was  likewise  stricken  down  before  having  done  much. 
Finally,  in  1856,  the  work  was  committed  to  myself,  and  by 
the  help  of  very  competent  assistants  it  has  been  earned 
through,  imperfectly,  indeed,  but  a  Report  of  one  thousand 
pages,  in  two  quarto  volumes,  and  thirty-eight  plates,  has 
finally  been  published.  The  history  of  the  survey  is  certainly 
one  of  the  saddest  on  the  records  of  science,  and  we  feel  more 
like  dedicating  our  labors  to  the  dead  than  the  living. 

For  some  reason,  I  presume  that  Professor  Adams'  situa 
tion  at  Middlebury  had  become  less  pleasant,  and  he  began  to 
look  out  for  some  other  position.  His  thoughts  turned  natu 
rally  to  his  Alma  Mater,  where  I,  who  had  always  tried  to 
befriend  him  was  President,  and  he  frankly  inquired  whether 
we  had  not  a  place  for  him.  AVe  had  no  vacancy,  but  our 
Cabinets  needed  a  Curator  who  would  fill  them  up,  and  we 
had  no  Professor  of  Astronomy,  and  so  we  made  up  a  chair 
of  Zoology  and  Astronomy,  knowing  Professor  Adams  to  be 
amply  qualified  to  take  charge  of  the  latter,  both  theoretically 
and  practically.  But  Zoology  was  his  first  love,  and  though 
he  would  hear  the  recitations  in  the  latter  science,  he  could 
not,  to  much  purpose,  direct  his  mind  into  a  new  channel. 
But  in  Zoology  he  worked  like  a  giant.  I  never  knew  a  man 
who  would  do  as  much  in  collecting,  arranging,  and  ticketing 


PROP.  ADAMS'  DONATIONS.  93 

specimens  as  he.  He  gave  his  whole  time  to  it,  regardless 
of  the  laws  of  health,  which  with  him  was  not  the  most 
vigorous.  So  economical  was  he  of  time,  that  in  going  from 
his  cabinet  to  his  meals  he  had  learnt  to  move  upon  a  trot, 
and  I  am  afraid  that  too  many  midnight  hours  saw  his  lamp 
burning.  He  had  two  characteristics  fully  developed,  which 
are  indispensable  to  form  the  distinguished  naturalist.  The 
one  was  the  power  of  giving  a  logical  attention  to  minutias,  and 
the  other  the  power  of  grasping  great  principles  and  using 
them  for  the  arrangement  of  details.  Hence  it  was  that  his 
labors  were  received  as  authority  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic. 
How  sad  to  think  that  such  a  man  was  cut  down  in  the  very 
prime  of  life ! 

From,  the  time  when  Professor  Adams  first  turned  his 
attention  to  natural  history  he  had  been  accumulating  a  cabi 
net — that  is  for  twelve  or  thirteen  years,  in  1846.  I  know  not 
what  circumstances  led  him  to  devote  special  attention  to 
conchology  and  entomology.  But  in  these  branches  his  col 
lections  were  far  the  richest.  Previous  to  his  appointment  at 
Amherst  he  intimated  to  me  his  intention  to  present  all  his 
collections  in  natural  history  to  the  College  in  case  he  should 
go  there.  The  intimation  came  first  from  him  and  not  in  con 
sequence  of  any  thing  said  by  me.  On  certain  conditions  he 
at  length  presented  the  following  specimens  and  books.  [See 
Visitor's  Guide  to  the  Cabinets,  by  C.  H.  Hitchcock,  pp.  77,  78.] 

Professor  Adams  estimated  the  value  of  this  collection  at 
$5,000,  and  he  gave  it  on  the  following  conditions : — 

1.  "  A  fund  not  less  in  value  than  the  above  mentioned,  shall  be 
established,  the  income  of  which  shall  be  used  forever  for  increasing 
the  collections  of  books  of  Natural  History,  and  of  specimens  in 
Natural  History  belonging  to  Amherst  College." 

2.  "This  expenditure  shall  be  made  by  myself  during  my  official 
connection  with  the  College,  and  subsequently  by  the  officers  of 
instruction  who  shall  have  charge  of  the  department  of  Natural 
History,  and  shall  be  subject  to  such  regulations  as  the  Trustees  of 
the  College  may  deem  requisite  to  secure  its  faithful  appropriation 
to  the  objects  specified  above." 


94  REMINISCENCES   OF  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

Other  conditions  required  the  furnishing  of  1,200  to  1,500  square 
feet  of  glazed  tables  and  plaster  blocks  for  the  specimens,  also 
expenses  of  removal,  &c.  At  my  suggestion  he  added  the  follow 
ing  :  "  In  case  any  of  my  sons  shall  be  students  in  Amherst  College, 
they  shall  not  be  required  to  pay  the  regular  term  bills."  Alas  !  two 
of  these  sons,  having  enlisted  in  the  army,  have  died  within  a  few 
months ;  a  third  one,  after  joining  College,  has  been  ever  since  on 
the  invalid  list,  so  that  there  is  no  hope  that  any  but  the  fourth  and 
youngest,  will  avail  himself  of  this  assistance  towards  a  public 
education. 

Prof.  Adams  closed  these  conditions  with  the  following  sentence, 
worthy  to  be  engraved  upon  his  monument : — 

"The  gift,  with  these  conditions,  is  made  with  a  view  to  contribute 
in  some  small  degree,  to  the  exhibition  of  the  glorious  plan  of 
creation,  especially  of  organic  beings,  as  this  exists  in  the  Mind  of 
the  Creator." 

Before  leaving  Middlebury,  Professor  Adams  had  spent  a 
winter  in  the  island  of  Jamaica,  in  the  West  Indies,  where  he 
had  made  a  considerable  part  of  the  collections  above  described. 
After  getting  established  at  Amherst,  he  sought  and  obtained 
leave  of  the  Trustees  to  spend  another  winter  on  the  Isthmus 
of  Panama,  from  whence  he  brought  large  treasures,  especially 
in  conchology.  Before  his  death,  indeed,  he  had  nearly  doubled 
his  collections ;  but  most  of  this  addition  was  made  at  the 
expense  of  the  College,  as  the  Trustees  continued  his  salary 
while  he  was  absent  obtaining  specimens.  Since  his  death, 
also,  my  youngest  son,  as  Curator  of  the  Cabinet,  has  been 
carrying  on  the  work  of  collection  and  of  arranging  and 
naming  the  specimens.  My  oldest  son  also  has  aided  in 
mounting  several  specimens  in  comparative  anatomy,  and 
Professor  Clark  added  some  of  the  larger  animals.  The 
following  have  been  added  since  Professor  Adams'  death  :— 

Mammalia,  (skeletons  38,)  185  specimens. 

Birds,  550  specimens  of  200  species,  (200  species  of  eggs  and 
nests.) 

lleptiles,  140  specimens. 
Fishes,  180  specimens. 
Invertebrates,  nearly  800  specimens. 


THE   GORILLA.  95 

I  ought  to  have  mentioned  earlier,  that  as  far  back  as  1843, 1  pro 
cured,  at  my  private  expense,  a  six-foot  Manikin,  a  human  skeleton, 
large  models  of  the  eye,  ear,  and  other  organs,  with  43  casts  of 
human  crania,  and  20  of  other  mammifera.  Of  these  I  will  give  a 
fuller  account  under  the  head  of  Personal  History. 

Several  important  specimens  have  recently  been  received  for  the 
Zoological  Museum,  since  this  enumeration  was  made.  Among 
them  are  the  stuffed  skin  and  skeleton  of  the  African  Gorilla,  pre 
sented  by  Rev.  Wm.  Walker,  of  Gaboon,  West  Africa.  No  other 
cabinet  in  the  country,  at  this  date,  is  so  largely  represented  by 
specimens  of  this  animal.  It  being  the  nearest  approach  of  the 
animals  to  man,  these  specimens  have  attracted  great  interest,  par 
ticularly  as  they  so  clearly  show  the  falsity  of  the  notion  that  the 
gorilla  could  ever  have  changed  into  man  by  the  "  law  of  selection." 
The  -skin  was  stuffed  by  Jillson,  of  Feltonville,  and  the  skeleton 
mounted  by  my  oldest  son. 

Edward  C.  Jones,  Esq.,  of  New  Bedford,  has  just  presented  the 
College  with  a  fine  set  of  the  bones  of  the  head  of  a  sperm  whale — 
specimens  of  great  pecuniary  value,  as  well  of  intense  scientific 
interest  and  of  great  novelty  in  collections,  especially  away  from 
the  sea-coast. 

Other  interesting  objects,  are  the  skeletons  of  moose,  caribou, 
horse,  beaver,  bear,  fox,  etc.,  and  the  preserved  skins  of  the  Asiatic 
bear  and  wolf,  and  American  beavers. 

By  the  terms  on  which  Prof.  Adams  made  his  valuable  donation, 
the  Zoological  Cabinet  has  made  larger  drafts  upon  the  College 
treasury  than  all  the  other  cabinets  combined.     The  following  were 
the  principal  expenses  during  the  lifetime  of  Prof.  Adams  : — 
For  horizontal  cases,  (see  conditions,)      ....      $890  00 

For  trays,  .        ... 200  00 

For  stoppered  jars, •        ,       . .         100  00 

Fitting  up  the  Cabinet,      .        .'       .        .        .        ...          41  00 

Removing  specimens  from  Vermont,        ....         132  00 

Income  of  the  Natural  History  Fund  for  six  years,          .      1,700  00 

$3,OG3  00 

Till  the  last  year  of  Prof.  Adams's  life,  he  had  appropriated  all 
the  income  (f  300,  annually,)  of  the  Natural  History  Fund,  to  Zool 
ogy.  The  last  year  of  his  life  we  made  an  agreement  which  was 
intended  to  be  permanent,  that  at  least  one-third  of  the  income 
should  go  to  Geology,  and  that  has  been  the  rule  ever  since.  Botany, 
also,  has  come  in  for  its  share  one  or  two  years.  But  probably 


96  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

about  $1,500  have  been  devoted  to  Zoology  since  his  death,  so  that 
the  Zoological  Cabinet,  as  it  now  is,  must  have  cost  the  College  at 
least  $4,000.  But  this  is  a  very  small  sum  for  so  splendid  a  collec 
tion,  which  no  naturalist  would  reckon  worth  less  than  $15,000. 

I  think  I  never  saw  a  man  all  of  whose  operations  were 
such  perfect  clock-work  as  those  of  Professor  Adams.  He  was 
rigidly  exact  in  the  performance  of  his  duties,  and  could  tole 
rate  no  delinquency  or  irregularity  in  others.  Hence  he  could 
not  always  get  along  agreeably  when  associated  with  others  in 
a  common  enterprise.  Towards  the  close  of  life  he  became 
exceedingly  tenacious  of  his  own  plans,  and  would  rarely  submit 
to  modify  them  at  all,  however  strongly  advised.  Knowing 
that  I  had  always  been  his  friend,  he  had  in  earlier  'days 
paid  a  good  deal  of  deference  to  my  advice ;  but  not  so  towards 
the  close  of  life.  I  told  him  emphatically  that  if  he  took  the 
ground  with  the  legislature  of  Vermont  that  they  must  vote 
money  for  the  publication  of  his  report  before  he  would  write 
it,  when  they  had  supposed  no  more  money  would  be  needed, 
that  they  would  assuredly  refuse  and  never  call  for  it.  But 
he  persisted,  and  my  prediction  proved  true.  The  year  before 
he  died  he  made  up  his  mind  that  he  must  go  again  to  the 
West  Indies,  and  wished  me  to  present  his  request  to  the 
Trustees.  I  did  so,  but  being  in  doubt  whether  the  interests 
of  the  College  would  allow  a  third  excursion  to  the  tropics,  I 
merely  stated  the  case  to  the  Trustees,  but  neither  advo 
cated  nor  opposed  the  request.  They  referred  it  to  a  commit 
tee  to  grant  or  deny  it.  He  called  on  me  soon  after  and 
severely  reproached  me  for  not  advocating  the  measure. 
Alas !  what  a  pity  that  I  did  not  then  take  decided  ground 
against  his  going,  and  thus  have  saved  his  life.  Instead  of 
this  I  concluded  that  as  a  choice  of  evils  it  would  be  best  to 
yield  to  a  passion  for  science  so  unconquerable  and  which 
promised  valuable  results  to  the  Cabinet.  He  went,  and 
stopping  at  the  hospitable  residence  of  a  friend  in  St.  Thomas, 
was  advised  to  keep  within  doors  till  the  yellow  fever  had 
subsided.  But  his  love  of  science  set  at  nought  the  suggestions 


PROFESSOR   ADAMS.  97 

of  prudence,  with  the  remark  that  there  was  no  fever  among 
the  shell  fish,  and  a  little  exposure  brought  on  the  fever  of 
which  he  died.  This  was  a  real  martyrdom  in  the  cause  of 
science.  His  ardor  for  new  discoveries  led  him  to  force  his 
way  through  all  obstacles  to  reach  the  tropics,  and  then  made 
him  deaf  to  the  suggestions  of  prudence,  and  he  fell  a  victim 
to  disease  just  at  that  period  of  life  when  maturity  of  mind  and 
judgment  and  a  vast  accumulation  of  facts  had  prepared  him 
to  bring  out  results  of  high  importance  to  the  cause  of  learning. 
But  why  should  we  murmur  when  all  the  circumstances  seemed 
so  completely  under  the  guidance  of  Providence ! 

There  are  some  points  in  the  conditions  on  which  Professor 
Adams  gave  his  collections  to  the  College  on  which  perhaps  I  can 
say  something  that  can  be  of  use.  One  relates  to  the  purchase 
of  books,  which  is  one  of  the  uses  to  which  the  income  of  the 
Natural  History  Fund  may  be  applied.  I  happen  to  know,  both 
from  conversation  with  him  and  from  his  five  years'  example,  that 
the 'grand  object  to  which  ho  intended  to  have  that  fund  applied 
was  the  purchase  of  specimens ;  for  he  well  knew  that  in  such  a 
large  Cabinet  as  ours,  $300  annually  would  do  little  more  than  keep 
it  from  deterioration.  Hence  he  forbids  the  use  of  the  fund  for 
building  cases  or  any  other  fixtures  for  the  exhibition  of  specimens. 
But  from  the  great  cost  of  works  on  Natural  History  he  presumed 
that  the  ordinary  increase  of  the  library  might  leave  out  some 
works  most  desirable,  and  therefore  he  meant  to  give  the  professors 
of  Natural  History  the  power  to  make  up  the  deficiency.  But  he 
did  not  mean  to  make  this  fund  a  substitute  for  that  share  in  the 
library  funds  to  which  Natural  History  would  be  entitled  by  equal 
division.  At  one  time  there  was  a  division  of  a  considerable  fund 
for  the  purchase  of  books  among  the  different  departments,  and  he 
became  convinced  that  the  proper  proportion  was  withheld  from 
Zoology  because  it  could  be  supplied  from  the  Natural  Histor}* 
Fund.  He  at  once  directed  a  note  to  the  Trustees  asserting  that 
the  Cabinet  which  he  had  presented  had  become  forfeit  by  a  viola 
tion  of  one  of  the  conditions  on  which  it  had  been  given.  I  was 
able  to  convince  him  that  he  was  mistaken  as  to  the  fact,  and  per 
suaded  him  to  ask  leave  of  the  Trustees  to  withdraw  his  communi 
cation.  But  suppose  that  in  future  that  should  actually  be  done 
which  he  supposed  had  been,  and  his  heirs  were  able  to  show  in 
court,  by  the  communication  above  referred  to,  what  were  Professor 
5 


98  REMINISCENCES   OF    A  Mil  ERST   COLLEGE. 

Adams'  views  on  this  point,  is  there  any  doubt  what  the  judge  would 
decide  in  the  case  ?  For  has  not  a  donor  the  right  to  define  his  own 
conditions  ? 

By  another  of  the  conditions  of  Professor  Adams'  gift,  the  income 
of  the  fund  is  to  be  expended  "by  the  officers  of  instruction  who 
shall  have  charge  of  the  department  of  Natural  History."  The 
recent  creation  of  a  Chair  of  Hygiene  and  Physical  Education,  and 
the  transference  of  Anatomy  and  Physiology  to  it  from  my  profes 
sorship,  awakens  the  question  whether  the  professor  of  these  sciences 
is  to  have  a  voice  in  this  distribution ;  in  other  words,  do  Anatomy 
and  Physiology  fall  within  the  province  of  Natural  History  ?  It  is 
certain  that  the  Natural  History  of  man  embraces  his  anatomical 
structure  and  the  functions  of  his  organs.  So  the  lower  animals 
cannot  even  be  classified  unless  their  Comparative  Anatomy  be 
studied,  and  in  fact  this  important  science  forms  a  necessary  part 
of  Zoology.  And  the  very  specimens  that  most  fully  illustrate 
Zoology  do  also  illustrate  Comparative  Anatomy,  and  vice  versa. 
I  refer  chiefly  to  skeletons.  I  can  hardly  doubt,  therefore,  that  the 
professor  of  Hygiene  and  Physical  Education,  (embracing  Anatomy 
and  Comparative  Anatomy  as  well  as  Comparative  Physiology,)  is 
entitled  to  a  place  among  the  dispeners  of  this  fund,  and  his  depart 
ment  entitled  to  a  share  of  it. 

BOTANICAL  SPECIMENS. 

Dried  botanical  specimens  being  less  necessary  and  useful  in 
giving  instruction  in  Botany  than  specimens  in  other  departments 
of  Natural  History,  because  living  plants  are  so  easily  accessible 
everywhere,  very  little  effort  was  made  early  to  secure  them  for 
the  College  Cabinet.  As  already  stated,  however,  I  had  collected 
nearly  all  the  species  of  plants  growing  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Col 
lege,  and  had  prepared  a  catalogue  of  the  same,  within  40  or  50 
miles  of  the  College.  The  Junior  Class  of  1829  made  the  following 
request  which  was  complied  with  by  publishing  a  pamphlet  of  G4 
pages  :— 

"  To  Prof.  E.  HITCHCOCK — Respected  Sir :  Understanding  that 
you  have  prepared  in  manuscript  a  catalogue  of  the  plants,  which 
are  found  in  the  vicinity  of  this  place,  the  members  of  the  Junior 
Class,  now  attending  your  lectures  on  the  subject  of  botany,  in  the 
belief  that  their  knowledge  of  the  science,  and  the  interest  of  their 
botanical  tours,  may  be  increased  by  the  possession  of  such  a  work, 
request  you  to  consent  to  the  favor  of  its  publication." 

The  botanical  specimens  now  in  possession  of  the  College  belong 


BOTANICAL   SPECIMENS.  99 

to  three  distinct  sorts.     I  will  indicate  the  sources  from  whence  they 
have  been  obtained,  so  far  as  I  am  able. 

1.  DRIED  PLANTS. 

The  first  donation  of  these  was  by  Prof.  Adams,  although  a  few 
hundred  species  of  plants  in  the  vicinity  had  been  previously  pre 
pared,  I  believe,  by  members  of  the  College.  Prof.  Adams  gave  : — 

1.  1,000  species  of  plants  from  the  Middle  and  Western  States. 

2.  Large  collections  of  British  plants. 

3.  Miscellaneous  specimens  of  tropical  plants. 

At  a  much  later  date  I  presented  my  entire  collection,  with  all  the 
duplicates  of  the  plants,  cryptogamian  as  well  as  phenogamian, 
which  I  had  collected  in  the  vicinity  of  the  College. 

Also  a  good  collection  of  plants  from  the  Vosges  Mountains,  sent 
me  by  Mons.  Mougeot,  a  distinguished  French  botanist. 

Prof.  Isaac  F.  Holton  presented  a  collection  of  plants  obtained  by 
him  in  New  Grenada,  South  America. 

Dr.  Blodget,  who  furnished  so  fine  a  collection  of  sponges,  sent 
also  many  interesting  sea  weeds. 

Some  ladies  in  Salem  sent  us  some  beautifully  prepared  sea  weeds 
from  our  coast. 

In  18GO,  Dr.  George  L.  Goodale,  a  promising  young  botanist  of 
the  class  of  I860,  was  employed  to  arrange  all  the  preceding  dona 
tions  into  a  single  College  Herbarium,  which  has  been  done  imper 
fectly,  and  the  number  of  species  is  4,000. 

2.  SMOOTHED  SECTIONS  OF  WOOD. 

175  of  these  were  obtained  by  Prof.  Adams,  mostly  from  tropical 
regions,  (the  West  Indies  and  Ceylon,)  while  connected  with  the 
College.  They  are  quite  instructive,  and  should  be  multiplied. 

3.  DRIED  FRUITS  AND  SEEDS. 

The  first  of  these  were  brought  from  the  West  Indies  by  Prof. 
Ilovey.  Afterwards  Prof.  Adams  made  large  additions,  so  that  now 
we  have  the  seeds  or  fruits  of  about  400  species,  mostly  from  tropi 
cal  regions.  This  collection  also  might  easily  be  extended. 

Summary  of   Species   and   Specimens  of  Natural  History  in  the 

Woods  and  Applcton  Cabinets. 

I  except  the  Shepard  Cabinet,  which  will  be  subsequently 
described. 

Hocks  and  Fossils  of  Continental  Europe,      .        .        .        .        000 
Hocks  and  Fossils  from  England,    .        .        .  •     • .        .        .        600 


100 


REMINISCENCES    OF  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 


Rocks  and  Fossils  from  Asia, 

Rocks  and  Fossils  from  the  West  Indies,        .... 

Rocks  and  Fossils  of  the  United  States,          ....     2,20< 

Rocks  and  Fossils  of  Massachusetts,       .....     3»20' 

Rocks  of  Connecticut,     .         •        •        • 

Rocks  and  Fossils  of  Vermont,   .   .        .        - 

Fossils  of  the  Paris  Basin,      .        .*     •        •        ••       • 

Simple  Minerals,     .......        •-       •     1?^ 

Organic  Remains  from  all  the  Rocks,     .         .  • 

Organic  Remains  from  the  Permian  formation,      .        • 
Coal  Plants  from  Silesia,         .        .        *        •        •        •        • 

Fossil  Fishes,  .....        •        • 

Tertiary  Fossils  from  Africa,  .        .        •  •        •        • 

Rocks  from  Kansas,         .         .         •        •        •        •        •        • 

Rocks  from  the  Rocky  Mountains,  .        .        .        •        •        • 
Economic  Collection  from  Europe,         .        .        •        •        •        3^0 
Polished  Marbles,  Alabasters,  &c.,          .        •  • 

ANIMALS. 

Manikin  and  Casts  of  human  and  other  Crania,     .        .        •         C5 
Mammals,  stuffed  and  skeletons,     .        ..       •        ....       150 

Birds,  (species,)      ......        •        •     ••  •  •       •        • 

Nests  of  Birds,        .        .        .....        •    •    • 

Eggs  of  Birds,  (species,)        .        .        •':'-*.      •        *  : 
Reptiles,  (species,)  .        ...        •        •        •        •  ° 

Amphibia,  (species,)        .        .        .        .      j    -    • 

Fishes,  (species),    .        •        •        ••      ^'      •'',"• 

Crustacea  and  Vermes,  (species,)  .        .        ...  ^w 

Insects,  (species,)    .        .        •        •       .-        •.'.'••       ' 
Mollusca,  (species,)         .         •         •        •        •        •  °'™ 

Animals  of  Mollusca,  (specimens,)    .     »        ...        *    -^ 
Radiated  Animals,  (species,)  ......        • 

Amorphozoa,  Sponges,  Sea  Fans,  &c.,  (specimens,)      .        > 

FOSSIL   FOOTMARKS. 

Number  of  individual  tracks,          .        .        •        •     \*        *  20>00< 

PLANTS. 

Dried  Plants,  (species,)  .....       -•        •        •    4.000 

Smoothed  Sections  of  Wood,          .... 

Seeds  and  Fruits,    .  .      .  .      .....        -        .-...,•       400 


PROFESSOR  !C.   JJ;,  $HFrARt>.  101 

PROFESSOR  C.  U.  SHEPARD'S    CABINET. 

As  already  stated,  it  was  the  offer  of  Professor  Shepard  to 
deposit  his  Cabinet  at  Amherst  that  led  us  to  make  vigorous 
efforts  to  erect  the  Woods  Cabinet.  A  brief  description  of 
that  Cabinet,  with  some  notices  of  its  author,  seem  desirable  in 
this  place. 

Charles  Upham  Shepard,  son  of  Rev.  Mace  Shepard,  of 
Tiverton,  Rhode  Island,  graduated  at  Amherst  in  1824,  his 
mother  and  her  family  having  come  to  reside  in  that  town  after 
the  death  of  her  husband.  He  had  spent  a  year  at  Brown 
University,  and  there,  or  even  earlier,  he  had  begun  to  pick  up 
the  minerals  and  rocks  around  him  and  gradually  to  get  them 
named.  Indeed,  when  at  a  quite  tender  age  he  saw  a  boss  of 
white  quartz  on  his  father's  land,  he  fancied  that  it  might  be 
marble  and  began  to  make  experiments  to  determine  its  nature, 
showing  an  innate  fondness  for  pursuits  that  were  to  occupy 
his  future  life.  When  he  reached  Amherst  it  was  not  teachers 
or  collections  that  seemed  to  develop  a  taste  for  natural  his 
tory,  except  that  Dr.  Moore  encouraged  him  and  lent  him  the 
Journal  of  the  Royal  Institution.  But  being  in  a  new  and 
unexplored  region  he  was  stimulated  to  search  out  its  mineral 
and  botanical  riches.  Instead  of  finding  collections  at  Amherst 
to  study,  his  own  furnished  Professor  Eaton  with  the  means 
of  lecturing.  On  leaving  College  he  went  to  study  with  Mr. 
Nuttall,  at  Cambridge,  an  eminent  botanist,  and  made  up  his 
mind  to  make  natural  history  his  life  work  instead  of  studying 
a  profession,  although  strongly  advised  by  President  Kirkland' 
not  to  depend  on  so  uncertain  means  of  support. 

While  yet  in  College  he  had  fitted  up  a  laboratory  in  his 
mother's  ante-cellar  and  there  began  to  lecture  to  members  of  a 
select  school.  From  that  day  to  the  present  he  has  continued 
to  give  instruction  in  chemistry  and  natural  history  as  a  Lec 
turer  or  Professor.  He  lectured  chiefly  in  Botany  and  Conch- 
ology  for  fifteen  years  in  Yale  College,  sustained  by  a  fund 
raised  by  the  Alumni.  He  has  given  twenty-six  courses  of 
lectures  as  Professor  of  Chemistry  in  the  Medical  •  College  of 


102  ,          IIEMIKISCSNOES  07  AMHEEST  COLLEGE. 

South  Carolina,  in  Charleston,  his  last  course  closing  only  a 
short  time  before  the  attack  on  Fort  Sumter.  In  1845  he 
was  appointed  Massachusetts  Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Nat 
ural  History  in  our  College,  and  has  retained  that  place  to  the 
present  time,  though  since  the  establishment  of  a  separate 
chair  of  Chemistry,  his  lectures  have  been  confined  chiefly  to 
Mineralogy  and  Astrolithology  (Meteorites.) 

From  the  day  when  a  mere  boy  he  began  to  pick  up  stones 
on  the  shores  of  Rhode  Island  to  the  present  day,  Mr.  Shepard 
has  been  incessantly  gathering  in  new  specimens,  casting  out 
the  old  ones  when  he  could  find  those  better.  He  has  shown 
extraordinary  skill  and  judgment  in  selecting  specimens,  and 
it  seems  as  if  he  formed  a  centre  of  attraction  towards  which 
the  best  specimens  naturally  flowed.  But  the  attraction  con 
sists  in  a  thorough  knowledge  of  his  business,  in  a  correct  taste, 
in  promptness  of  action,  in  a  thorough  and  persevering  devo 
tion  to  the  work,  and  in  a  willingness  to  make  great  sacrifices 
and  incur  much  expense  to  accomplish  his  object.  Scarcely 
an  important  locality  of  minerals  is  known  in  the  United  States 
east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  even  though  it  be  in  the  wild 
mountains  of  Georgia  or  of  Arkansas  or  Missouri,  which  he 
has  not  visited  again  and  again,  and  there  has  he  gathered 
together  those  duplicates  which,  taken  to  Europe  in  the  ten 
excursions  he  has  made  thither,  have  been  better  than  gold  in 
exchanges  for  rare  transatlantic  specimens. 

See,  now,  a  synopsis  of  this  forty  years'  unfaltering  devotion 
to  a  darling  object.  Simple  minerals  and  meteorites  have  been 
the  first  objects  of  his  labors,  while  geology  and  zoology  have 
come  in,  as  it  were,  incidentally ;  and  yet  the  incidental  results 
are  often  superb. 

1.  Simple  Minerals :  over  10,000  specimens,  none  of  which  have 
suffered  the  slightest  artificial  alteration;  all  of  them  are  very  select 
and  many  superb;  in  some  species  superior  to  any  existing  cabim-t 
• — as  the  rutilcs  for  instance,  where  we  sec  a  multitude  of  crystals 
some  weighing  nine  pounds.  Actual  inspection  only  can  give  an 
idea  of  the  selectness  and  richness  of  this  collection. 


PROFESSOR  SHEPARD'S  COLLECTIONS.     103 

2.  Technological  Collection.     This  embraces  the  gems  and  other 
minerals  that  have  been  cut  and  polished.     It  embraces  500  speci 
mens,  many  of  them  of  exquisite  beauty. 

3.  Meteorites.     This  collection  was  begun  in  1828,  and  now  con 
tains  specimens  from  170  localities,  weighing  1,000  pounds.     The 
earliest  meteor  represented  fell  in  France  in  1492,  and  the  most 
recent  one  in  Ohio,  in  May,  I860.     One  specimen  from  South  Africa 
weighs  328  pounds;    another  from  the  same  quarter  178  pounds. 
This  is  decidedly  the  largest  collection  of  meteorites  in  the  United 
States,  and  in  Europe  not  more  than  two  or  three,  (say  that  in 
Vienna  and  the  British  Museum,)  are  larger,  taking  into  account 
the  number  of  meteors  represented  and  the  entire  weight.     It  is  cer 
tainly  remarkable  that  a  single  individual  in  the  interior  of  New 
England  should  without  any  extraordinary  pecuniary  means  have 
been  able  thus  to  hold  a  successful  competition  with  most  of  the  great 
governmental  collections  of  Europe,  in  these  most  rare  and  expen 
sive  of  natural  objects.     It  gives  us  an  impressive  glimpse  into  the 
composition  of  other  worlds  ! 

4.  Geological  Collection.     This  contains  above  6,000  specimens, 
many  of  them  very  superior — from  all  parts  of  the  world.     They 
are  grouped  together  according  to  the  countries  from  which  they 
came,  commencing  with  British  North  America,  then  the  States  of 
the  Union,  beginning  with  New  England,  then  the  West  Indies, 
England,  France,  and  Continental  Europe.     The  Sauroid  Fishes  of 
Scotland  and  other  ichthyolites  are  represented  by  superb  specimens  ; 
as  are  the  coal  measures  ;  the  fossil  footmarks  are  very  fine ;  so  are 
the  tertiary  fossils  of  the  Southern  States  and  the  auriferous  rocks 
of  the  same  region ;  as  well  as  the  fossils  of  the  mesozoic  rocks  of 
Europe. 

5.  Zoological  Collection.     This  embraces  about  5,000  species  of 
shells  which,  away  from  the  proximity  of  Prof.  Adams'  8,000  species, 
would  be  regarded  as  very  large.     The  fishes,  reptiles,  echinoderms 
and  radiates  are  numerous  and  fine. 

6.  Dried  Plants.     These  amount  to  6,000  species,  the  larger  part 
from  the  United  States. 

In  pecuniary  value  the  Shepard  Cabinet  may  be  safely  estimated 
as  follows  : — 

Meteorites, $25,000  00 

Simple  Minerals  and  Technological  Collection,      .       20,000  00 
The  other  Collections, 5,000  00 

$50,000  00 


104  REMINISCENCES  OF  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

Such  is  the  magnificent  result  of  forty  years'  labor,  continued 
with  remarkable  tenacity  and  singleness  of  purpose.  It  is  not 
my  purpose  to  give  the  whole  history  of  Professor  Shepard, 
any  more  than  that  of  the  other  gentlemen  whose  names  have 
been  introduced ;  otherwise  I  should  speak  of  his  skill  as  an 
analytic  chemist,  of  the  numerous  new  mineral  species  he  has 
described,  the  volumes  on  mineralogy  he  has  written,  and  the 
numerous  papers  of  his  on  that  subject  and  on  meteorites, 
which  the  scientific  journals  contain.  But  the  great  work  of 
his  life  has  been  the  accumulation  of  the  above  Collections. 
These  are  now  exhibited  in  the  best  possible  light  in  the 
Woods  Cabinet,  and  awaken  the  admiration  of  every  intelligent 
visitor.  The  European  tourist  will  rarely  meet  even  there 
with  cabinets  so  well  lighted  and  arranged,  and  with  speci 
mens  so  rich  and  select.  He  will  find  larger  collections,  but 
few  that  are  so  complete  and  satisfactory. 

4.     ARCHAEOLOGICAL  CABINETS. 

In  a  literal  sense  all  the  geological  cabinets  are  Archaeolog 
ical  ;  but  that  term  is  usually  limited  to  what  is  ancient  in 
human  history,  and  so  I  use  it  here.  We  have  some  collec 
tions  that  are  embraced  in  it,  although  their  procurement  was 
rather  incidental.  The  most  important  is 

1.     THE  NINEVEH  GALLERY. 

Rev.  Mr.  Marsh,  American  Missionary  at  Mosul,  in  Mesopotamia, 
on  or  near  the  site  of  ancient  Nineveh,  was  the  first,  I  believe,  who 
sent  specimens  to  this  country,  disinterred  from  its  ruins.  These  he 
presented  to  Williams  College.  Learning  this  fact,  and  knowing, 
also,  that  Dr.  Henry  Lobdell  had  joined  the  same  mission,  I  address 
ed  him  a  letter  inquiring  whether  he  could  not  secure  some  speci 
mens  from  Mr.  Layard,  for  Amherst,  from  the  same  ruins,  promising 
that  I  would  see  to  the  expenses  of  transportation.  These,  I  knew, 
must  be  heavy  as  it  was  necessary  to  transport  the  specimens  on  the 
backs  of  camels  500  miles  to  Scanderoon,  on  the  Mediterranean, 
and  thence  5,000  miles  by  ship.  Dr.-  Lobdell  took  hold  of  the  work 
at  once  and  forwarded  several  valuable  slabs.  These  were  placed 
for  a  time  in  the  north-east  room  of  the  Library  Building ;  but  in 


NINEVEH  GALLERY.  105 

anticipation  of  obtaining  more  specimens  I  was  led  to  make  efforts 
to  procure  a  Nineveh  Gallery,  and  was  successful,  as  I  have  more 
fully  described  in  another  place.  I  also  succeeded  in  obtaining 
subscriptions,  sufficient  with  the  offer  of  $200  on  the  part  of  the 
Trustees,  to  defray  all  the  attendant  expenses.  The  following  is 
a  list  of  the  contributions : — 

Enos  Dickinson,  building  and  frescos,  .        ,  .  .  $567  00 

Trustees  of  the  College,         .        .        .        ..  .  .  200  00 

Anthony  Jones,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  .        ,        •  .  •  •  100  00 

J.  P.  Williston,  Esq.,  of  Northampton,         .  "  .  .  50  00 

George  Merriam,  Esq.,  of  Springfield,          .  .  •  .  50  00 

Abner  Kingman,  Esq.,  of  Boston,          ....*.  33  00 

Thomas  W.  Williams,  Esq.,  of  New  London,  .  30  00 

Kichard  P.  Waters,  Esq.,  of  Salem,      .        .  .  .  30  00 

Eliphalet  Williams,  Esq.,  of  Northampton,  .  ,  .  30  00 

John  Clarke,  Esq.,  of  Northampton,     .        .  .  .  25  00 

Gerard  Hallock,  Esq.,  of  New  Haven,  .         „  .  .  20  00 

Daniel  L.  Harris,  Esq.,  of  Springfield,          .  .  20  00 

George  H.  Williams,  Esq.,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  5T.,    .  10  00 

I  shall  not  attempt  to  delineate  the  character  of  Dr.  Lobdell, 
because  it  has  been  so  fully  and  faithfully  drawn  out  by  Prof.  Tyler, 
although  an  affectionate  remembrance  of  such  a  man  would  lead 
me  to  say  much.  He  was  one  of  those  men  who  condense  life  into 
a  narrow  space,  so  that  all  their  powers  are  set  to  work  under  high 
pressure,  and,  of  course,  are  soon  exhausted.  I  doubt  some  whether 
such  men  ever  could  work  moderately,  because  the  impelling  power 
of  the  mind  within  is  always  in  a  state  of  high  tension.  We  mourn 
that  the  frail  engine  is  so  soon  torn  to  pieces ;  yet  sometimes  such 
men  accomplish  more  for  the  race  than  the  prudent  octogenarian. 
The  experiment,  however,  is  a  hazardous  one  ;  and  though  a  Martyn, 
or  a  Lobdell,  occasionally  appear,  yet  biography  records  the  names 
of  multitudes  who  with  the  like  impulsive  tendencies  have  not  their 
moral  or  intellectual  power,  nor  are  thrown  by  Providence  into  like 
favorable  exigencies. 

Dr.  Lobdell  labored  with  great  zeal  to  get  together  the  second 
collection  of  objects  for  our  gallery.  He  even  went  once  or  twice 
to  Nimroud  to  superintend  the  excavation  of  the  sculptured  slabs,  as 
is  fully  described  in  Prof.  Tyler's  Memoir.  There,  also,  may  be 
found  the  fullest  description  yet  given  (made  out  by  my  youngest 

5* 


106  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

son  C.  IT.  II.)  of  the  contents  of  the  Nineveh  Gallery,  of  which  the 
following  is  a  summary  : — 

1.  Sculptures. — 1.  Two  human  figures,  with  eagles'  heads,  and  on 
one  the  whole,  and  on  the  other,  half  of  the  sacred  tree.     This  is 
the  Nisroch  of  Scripture.     2.  Two-horned  Divinity,  with  wings,  a 
basket  and  a  cone,  7  1-2  feet  high.     3.  A  three-horned  Divinity  like 
the  last.     4.  King  Sardanapalus  II.  who  built  the  palace,  just  re 
turned  from  hunting  or  war,  and  making  a  religious  oblation.     This 
Dr.  Lobdell  humorously  said  was  the  first  king  ever  sent  to  the 
United  States.     5.  A  filleted  Divinity  similar  to  Nos.  2  and  3— but 
he  holds  in  one  hand  a  branch  of  the  sacred  tree,  and  the  other  is 
lifted  up  as  if  speaking.     A  considerable  part  of  all  these  figures  is 
covered  with  cuneiform  inscriptions.     Mr.  John  Avery,  who  gradu 
ated  in  1861,  is  the  only  person  who  has  made  any  attempt  to  deci 
pher  these  inscriptions.     By  sending  to  Europe  he  procured  some*- 
works  that  aided  him  and  satisfied  himself  that  they  are  essentially 
the  same  on  all  the  slabs,  and  of  no  great  importance.     They  are 
also  most  of  them  a  good  deal  mutilated  by  sawing  the  slabs  to 
reduce  their  weight. 

2.  Bricks. — Six  of  great  size,  chiefly  from  the  palaces  of 'Sarda 
napalus  and  Sennacherib,  at  Nimroud,  and  one  from  Babylon.     All 
of  them  have  inscriptions — that  from  Babylon  put  on  by  a  stamp, 
and,  therefore,  an  example  of  the  earliest  printing  known. 

3.  Antique    Gems,    Pottery,    $c.  —  Babylonian,    Sassanian,   and 
Assyrian   seals   and  cylinders,   cut  gems   from   Arabia,  (probably 
modern,)  and  fragments  of  pottery,  with  inscriptions. 

4.  Modern  articles  now  used  in  Mesopotamia,  such  as  bracelets, 
shoes,  lamps,    spoons,  pipes,  escritoires,  locks,  &c.,  more  than  a 
hundred. 

5.  Coins. — Commencing  with  Alexander  the  Great,  and  embracing 
numerous  silver  and  copper  coins  of  the  Seleucidae,  Assacidaj  and 
Sassanidas,  also  Roman  coins  from  Vespasian  to  Alexander  Severus ; 
over  200  mostly  copper  Cufic  coins  of  the  old  Mohammedan  princes  ; 
also  numerous  modern  coins  chiefly  from  other  donors.     The  whole 
amounted  to  about  1,000,  and  were  arranged  and  named  with  much 
skill  by  Professor  Tuckerman.     But  here  for  the  first  time  in  the 
history  of  Amherst  College  we  have  to  record  a  serious  loss  by 
theft.     About  40  of  the  best  antique  silver  coins  were  stolen  in  the 
summer  of  18G1  by  breaking  open  the  case  containing  them.     There 
was  evidence  that  it  was  done  by  some  one  acquainted  with  the  value 
of  coins  to  some  extent,  and  not  merely  to  get  at  the  silver.     But 
thus  to  steal  from  a  public  institution  articles  obtained  by  a  devoted 


FRESCOS.  107 

missionary,  and  intended  for  tho  public  good,  indicates  a  degree  of 
depravity  and  meanness  which  Dr.  Lobdell  never  found  among  the 
Arabs  and  Koords  of  Mesopotamia.  It  is  only  a  man  destined  for, 
or  at  any  rate  deserving  the  gallows  who  would  do  it,  and  our  only 
consolation  is  that  such  men  like  rattlesnakes,  hyenas  and  alliga 
tors,  are  rare. 

Dr.  Lobdell  obtained  most  of  these  coins  from  Dervishes,  arid 
doubtless  with  money  we  might  in  some  measure  supply  our  loss,  if 
some  other  missionary  on  the  same  ground  would  be  at  the  trouble 
to  do  it. 

It  increases  our  interest  in  the  contents  of  the  Nineveh  Gallery 
to  learn,  as  we  do  from  Professor  Tyler's  Memoir,  that  to  get 
together  and  prepare  for  the  journey  the  various  articles,  was  about 
the  last  earthly  labor  of  Dr.  Lobdell.  He  left  the  arrangements 
incomplete,  and  we  are  indebted  to  other  missionaries,  especially 
Rev.  Mr.  Williams,  for  carrying  them  through. 

The  frescos  in  the  Nineveh  Gallery  represent  other  objects 
dug  out  of  the  ruins  of  the  ancient  city,  by  Layard,  and  figured 
by  him.  They  are  as  follows :  7.  A  winged,  human-headed  lion. 
8.  Sennacherib  in  his  chair  of  state  before  Lachish.  9.  Fish  god. 
10.  Sphinx.  11.  Assyrian  spearsman.  12.  Archer.  13.  Slinger. 
14.  Eunuch.  15,  Assyrian  emblems  of  the  Deity.  16.  Fish  god. 
17.  Winged  horse.  18.  Griffin.  19.  Monkey.  20.  Bull. 

These  were  executed  with  much  skill  by  Mr.  A.  Lydston,  of 
Springfield. 

Three  other  small  collections  of  virtu  we  had  placed  in  the 
Nineveh  Gallery ;  but  with  the  coins  they  have  been  removed  to  the 
Library  Building.  These  collections  are  as  follows  : — 

1.  Sulphur  casts  of  the  medals  struck  by  Napoleon  Bonaparte, 
during  his  reign,  185  in  number.     These  were  presented  by  Henry 
Edwards,  Esq. 

2.  Plaster  casts  of  the  heads  of  illustrious  men,  mostly  ancient. 
These  were  bought  by  Professor  Hovey,  in  Italy  :  48  specimens. 

3.  Copper  medals  struck  by  the  Government  of  the  United  States : 
84  specimens.     Bought  by  the  College. 

2.  CABINET  OF  THE  SOCIETY  OF  INQUIRY. 
The  Society  of  Inquiry  has  existed  almost  co-equally  with 
the  College,  its  object  being  to  inquire  into  the  physical, 
intellectual  and  moral  condition  of  the  world,  and  hence  to 
discuss  questions  of  personal  duty.  It  has  a  library  of 
considerable  size  and  a  collection  of  a  few  hundred  objects 


108  REMINISCENCES  OF  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

from  foreign  countries  illustrating  the  arts  and  habits  and 
especially  the  polytheism  of  foreign  lands.  These  were  sent 
chiefly  by  missionaries,  some  of  whom  were  formerly  members 
of  the  Society.  These  objects  were  formerly  in  one  of  the 
rooms  of  North  College,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire,  but 
most  of  them  were  rescued  without  much  injury  and  are  now 
exhibited  in  a  fine  room  in  the  upper  story  of  South  College. 
By  an  increase  of  specimens,  as  could  easily  be  done,  this 
room  might  be  made  one  of  the  most  attractive  spots  in 
College.  The  Society  is  entirely  in  the  hands  of  the 
students  and  has  always  been  one  of  the  most  uesful  of  the 
literary  societies. 

3.    INDIAN  RELICS. 

In  1853,  Professor  Edward  Hitchcock,  Jr.,  presented  a 
collection  of  721  specimens  of  the  relics  of  the  Aborigines 
of  our  country,  and  these  he  has  subsequently  increased  to 
1,100.  They  were  collected  by  his  own  exertions  through 
many  years.  They  are  placed  for  the  present  on  the  floor 
of  the  Zoological  Cabinet,  although  obviously  out  of  place. 
"We  need  much  an  Archaeological  room  for  these,  the  coins, 
and  some  other  things  which  have  been  described. 

PECUNIARY  VALUE  OF  THE  CABINETS. 
It  can  only  be  an  approximation  to  the  truth  which  we  can 
make  as  to  the  pecuniary  value  of  our  Cabinets :  first,  because 
the  price  of  such  objects  is  not  well  settled  in  our  country, 
and  secondly,  because  it  varies  so  much  at  different  times. 
The  following  estimate,  I  trust,  is  not  above  the  truth,  that  is, 
the  collections  would  bring  as  much  in  times  of  peace  and 
prosperity : — 

Specimens.  Value. 

Rocks  of  Continent  of  Europe,    ...            600  $300  00 

Hocks  from  England, COO  300  00 

Rocks  from  Asia, .         .        ...        .         1,200  COO  00 

Rocks  from  the  United  States,      .         .         .        2,200  1,200  00 


SUMMARY   OF   THE   CABINETS. 


109 


Rocks  from  the  West  Indies, 
Rocks  and  Fossils  of  Massachusetts,   . 
Rocks  and  Fossils  of  Connecticut, 
Rocks  and  Fossils  of  Vermont,   . 
Fossils  of  the  Paris  Basin,   .         . 
General  Collection  of  Fossils,      .        •         . 
Fossils  of  the  Permian  Formations,     .         .- 
Plants,  Fishes,  &c.,  from  various  quarters, . 

Simple  Minerals, 

Economic  Collection  from  Europe,       .        . 
Polished  Marbles,  &c.,  • 

Fossil  Footmarks,  20,000  tracks, 
Zoological  Cabinet,  viz., 

8,000  species  of  Shells,  5,000  Articulated 

Animals,   250  Radiated    Animals,   700 

Vertebrate  Animals,  868  Amorphozoa, 

in  all,     .        .         «        .        •         .         . 

Plants— 4,000   dried,   sections,    175,   seeds, 

400, 

Nineveh  Gallery,  in  all,        .        .        .      '  . 
Indian  Relics,        ...... 

Cost  of  the   Cabinet   Buildings,    including 

the   Astronomical   Observatory   and   two 

Lecture  Rooms,         .        .        .        . 
Virtu— 1,000    Coins,    185    Sulphur    Casts, 

48  Plaster  Casts,  84  Copper  Medals, 


Value  of  Professor  Shepard's  Collections, 
as  already  stated, 


Specimens.  Value. 

225  $100  00 

3,200  1,500  00 

800  400  00 

2,200  500  00 

124  50  00 

500  250  00 

100  50  00 

180  100  00 

1,900  1,000  00 

300  150  00 

172  80  00 

11,000  00 


15,000  00 

.        .          1,000  00 

1,000  00 

1,100  500  00 


20,5G7  00 

350  00 

$5G,997  00 

$50,000  00 


It  is  now  almost  fifty  years  since  I  began  to  collect  speci 
mens  in  natural  history,  but  during  a  considerable  part  of  the 
time  it  has  been  my  pastime  rather  than  my  employment, 
though  always  on  the  lookout  for  opportunities  to  add  to  my 
store.  For  nearly  forty  years  Professor  Shepard  has  given 
an  almost  undivided  attention  to  this  work,  as  did  Professor 
Adams,  for  twelve  or  thirteen  years.  Both  my  sons  also  have 
devoted  much  time  for  several  years  to  accomplish  their  part 
of  the  work  of  filling  up  our  rooms,  so  that  I  do  not  think  it 


110  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

exaggeration  to  say  that  the  collections  owned  by,  or  deposited 
in,  Amherst  College  have  required  seventy  or  eighty  years'  labor. 
Providence  so  ordered  it  that  three  of  us  who  had  labored  longest 
should  bring  together  on  this  hill  the  result  of  our  labors. 

ESTIMATE  OF  THESE  CABINETS  BY  SCIENTIFIC  MEN. 

In  August,  1859,  the  American  Association  for  the 
Advancement  of  Science,  held  its  meeting  of  five  hundred 
members  at  Springfield.  By  the  railroads,  the  [citizens  of 
Amherst  and  the  members  of  the  College,  they  were  invited 
to  visit  Amherst.  They  did  so,  en  masse,  and  the  following 
description  of  the  excursion,  that  appeared  in  the  American 
Journal  of  Science,  and  was  probably  prepared  by  Professor 
B.  Silliman,  Jr.,  will  give  an  idea  of  the  impression  made 
upon  the  party  by  the  cabinets  as  well  as  the  scenery. 

"  The  weather  throughout  was  as  fine  as  possible,  and  the  excursion 
to  Amherst  College,  under  the  escort  of  the  venerable  and  distin 
guished  Dr.  Hitchcock,  was  an  occasion  long  to  be  remembered  as 
one  of  the  golden  days  of  life.  Members  seemed  lost  in  admiration 
of  the  romantic  loveliness  of  the  scenery  surrounding  the  College, 
and  in  the  unexpected  extent,  richness,  and  high  condition  of  the 
scientific  collections,  unequalled,  certainly,  by  those  of  any  other 
college  of'the  United  States.  Here  Dr.  Hitchcock  has  built  up  a 
lasting  monument  of  his  original  labors  in  the  curious  department 
of  footmarks  on  the  Connecticut  sandstone.  This  vast  collection, 
vast  both  in  the  numbers  and  magnitude  of  its  specimens,  is  now 
preserved  in  '  Appleton  Hall,'  a  new  building  erected  specially  for 
its  accommodation,  and  on  the  ground  floor  of  which  these  curious 
records  of  lost  races,  once  denizens  of  this  lovely  Valley,  are  .spread 
out  to  the  inspection  of  visitors.  No  one  can  form  an  adequate 
notion  of  the  interest  of  these  remarkable  collections,  without  a 
personal  inspection. 

"  Whatever  the  Black  stone  of  Mecca  may  prove  to  be,  meteorite 
or  porphyry,  the  scientific  pilgrim  to  Amherst  will  be  rewarded  by 
an  inspection  of  the  largest  and  most  important  collection  of  meteoric 
specimens  in  the  world,  excepting  that  of  the  Imperial  Museum 
of  Vienna.  *  *  *  * 

"The  mincralogical  collection  of  Professor  Shepard,  at  Amherst, 
is  worthy  of  most  particular  notice.  In  the  richness  and  splendor 


USES  OF  CABINETS.  Ill 

of  its  selections,  the  mineral  species  are  nowhere  in  America,  and 
seldom  anywhere,  so  well  represented.  Choice  specimens  seem  to 
have  come  to  this  celebrated  collector's  hands,  like  the  fabled  fish 
of  the  weird  fisherman.  Whatever  was  most  rare  or  choice  from 
any  locality,  appears  to  have  found  no  rest  until  it  was  safely  placed 
on  his  shelves. 

"No  wonder,  then,  that  amid  such  surroundings,  and  with  beauty 
and  festive  speech  at  the  hospitable  table  covered  by  the  fair  hands 
of  Araherst  ladies,  the  Association  was  beguiled  to  view  the  glories 
of  a  midsummer  sunset  over  the  picturesque  ranges  of  the  North 
ampton  hills,  or  that  they  returned  to  Springfield  late  in  the  evening, 
full  of  the  praise  of  the  day  and  its  rich  entertainments." 

In  a  History  of  American  Conchology,  by  George  M.  Tryon,  Jr., 
of  the  Philadelphia  Academy  of  Natural  Science,  appears  the  fol 
lowing  notice  of  the  Adams  Cabinet.  "  The  splendid  collection 
belonging  to  Amherst  College  is  a  noble  monument  of  the  unflagging 
assiduity  and  scientific  attainments  of  the  late  Professor  C.  B. 
Adams,  who  formed  it.  It  embraces  types  o£  all  his  species,  and 
full  suites  of  the  shells  of  the  various  West  India  Islands,  and  of 
Panama.  It  is  esteemed  by  competent  judges  the  most  valuable 
collection  for  study  in  the  United  States." 

THE  USES  OF  CABINETS  IN  A  COLLEGE. 

In  an  age  when  such  strenuous  efforts  are  made  almost 
everywhere  throughout  the  civilized  world,  by  governments, 
by  institutions  of  all  grades,  and  by  individuals,  to  gather  and 
arrange  natural  objects,  it  may  seem  superfluous  to  inquire  as 
to  their  use  in  a  college,  where  its  trustees  profess  to  give  a 
liberal  education,  and  to  ignore  no  great  branch  of  knowledge. 
But  I  know  full  well  that  their  cui  bono  is  sometimes  asked 
by  men  who  profess  to  entertain  very  large  views  of  college 
education,  but  having  devoted  themselves  to  some  other 
speciality,  are  only  slightly  acquainted  with  natural  history. 
It  may  be  well,  therefore,  to  state  the  most  important  uses  to 
which  collections  of  this  sort  are  applicable  in  a  college. 

1.  They  are  indispensable  to  give  students  a  knowledge 
of  the  natural  productions  of  different  parts  of  the  earth,  and 
without  which,  their  views  would  be  narrow,  and  they  would 
be  liable  to  constant  blunders  in  their  literary  productions. 


112  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

2.  When  studied  they  help  very  much  to  sharpen  the  dis 
crimination  and  teach  students  how  to  distinguish  between 
the  apparent  and  the  real.     Indeed,  as  a  means  of  mental 
discipline,  no  branch  of  knowledge  goes  before  natural  history, 
though  from  the  very  limited  attention  usually  given  to  such 
subjects,  this  effect  is  but  slightly  realized. 

3.  They  are  indispensable,  also,  to  give  facilities  to  any 
students  who  have  a  natural  taste  and  fitness  for  such  pur 
suits,  to  qualify  themselves  for  future  distinction  in  them,  and 
this  they  can  do,  if  the  collections  are  good,  without  interfer 
ing  with  recitations  in  other  branches,  by  devoting  those  leisure 
hours  to  the  cabinets,  which  most  give  to  useless  recreation  or 
something  worse. 

4.  They  deeply  interest  and  instruct  the  community  sur 
rounding  a  college,  and  all  who  visit  it,  and  thus  give  reputa 
tion  to  it.     Visitors  cannot  be  shown  much  in  mathematics, 
or   the   classics,  as  they  pass  through  college   halls,  unless 
particularly  well  acquainted  with  the  subjects,  and  even  large 
libraries  are  all  seen  at  a  glance.     But  almost  every  one  will 
see  enough  in  nature's  products  to  awaken  interest,  inquiry 
and  admiration.     This   explains  the  fact   that   as   many  as 
fifteen  thousand  visitors  annually  have  registered  their  names 
in  the  Ainherst  Cabinets,  small  and  retired  as  the  place  is. 
The  College  could  not  afford  to  lose  the  influence  in  favor  of 
the  institution  thus  spread   through  the  country.     It  turns 
the  attention  of  many  young  men  to  this  place,  and  when  they 
learn  that  in  all  other  respects  the  institution  stands  high,  this 
feature  often  brings  them  here,  in  spite  of  the  claims  of  rival 
colleges.     This  is  not  indeed  the  most  important  thing  in  the 
College.     But  we  need  to  combine  all  the  influences  we  can 
to  enable  the  College  to  maintain  the  high  position  it  has 
taken,  and  to  continue  its  upward  course. 

5.  These  cabinets  form  an  anchor  to  steady  the  College  in 
stormy  times.     Such  periods  of  trial  not  imfrcquently  come, 
when  the  temptation  is  to  give  up  the  ship,  or  transfer  it  to 
some  other  place.     But  though  it  be  easy  to  transfer  able 


USES   OF   CABINETS.  113 

teachers  and  funds,  and  even  libraries,  large  cabinet  build 
ings,  with  costly  fixtures,  cannot  so  easily  be  changed,  and  the 
friends  of  the  College  would  be  quite  apt  to  rally  around  the 
fruit  of  seventy-five  years  of  labor  which  they  contain,  since 
mere  money  cannot  make  their  place  good. 

6.  These  cabinets  are  indispensable  to  learn,  young  men 
how  to  defend  and  illustrate  religion.  This  is  their  most 
important  use.  For  I  hesitate  not  to  say,  that,  however  other 
wise  well  educated  a  scholar  is,  he  cannot  defend  Christianity, 
or  even  natural  religion,  from  the  subtle  attacks  which  of  late 
years  have  been  drawn  from  natural  history,  from  geology 
•and  zoology ;  for  instance,  if  he  has  not  seen,  and  to  some 
extent  studied  the  specimens  on  which  these  objections  are 
founded,  he  must  see  and  examine  rocks  and  fossils  before 
he  can  understand  the  discussions  raised  by  geology  on  the 
age  of  the  world,  on  the  eternity  of  matter,  on  the  preadamic 
existence  of  suffering  and  death,  on  special  Divine  interven 
tions  in  nature,  and  on  the  extent  of  the  deluge.  He  must 
study  animals  and  plants,  or  he  cannot  refute  the  advocates 
of  the  development  hypothesis  or  the  plurality  of  origin  of 
the  human  species.  Where  else  but  in  college  can  those  who 
mean  to  be  ministers  of  the  Gospel  acquire  such  knowledge  ? 
Surely  not  in  our  theological  seminaries,  nor  in  the  families  of 
private  clergymen.  The  abstract,  metaphysical  way  of  treating 
those  subjects  which  they  may  learn  elsewhere,  will  only  excite 
the  ridicule  or  contempt  of  the  able,  sceptical  naturalist. 

On  the  other  hand  it  is  only  by  the  study  of  cabinets  that 
theological  students  can  learn  how  to  use  with  ability  those 
numerous  illustrations  and  confirmations  of  religious  truth 
which  of  late  years  have  been  derived  from  natural  history. 
The  larger  part  and  the  most  striking  of  the  proofs  and  illus 
trations  regarding  the  Deity  and  his  attributes,  have  been 
derived  from  this  department  of  knowledge.  It  is  a  rich 
field,  and  furnishes,  besides  the  case  just  indicated,  numerous 
striking  confirmations  and  illustrations  of  some  of  the  most 
precious  truths  of  revealed  religion,  as  the  works  of  Me  Cosh, 
Hugh  Miller,  Dana,  Harris,  Chalmers,  and  many  others  show. 


114  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

Now  in  a  college  founded  expressly  to  raise  up  men  to 
defend  and  preach  the  Gospel,  and  nearly  half  of  whose 
graduates  have  entered  the  sacred  office,  is  it  not  of  great 
importance  that  the  means  should  be  amply  furnished  for 
making  them  acquainted  with  the  grounds  on  which  religion 
has  been  attacked,  and  from  which  it  has  also  been  amply  illus 
trated  ?  I  should  be  content  if  only  instruction  enough  were 
given  in  geology  and  natural  history  to  qualify  the  graduates 
to  understand  the  religious  bearings  of  these  sciences.  The 
larger  the  cabinets  the  easier  to  give  them  this  instruction. 
But  I  am  afraid  that  but  a  small  part  of  our  graduates  have 
attained  to  such  knowledge.  I  doubt  whether  many  of  them 
would  feel  qualified  to  defend  religion  against  the  sceptical 
geologist  or  zoologist. 

7.  Finally,  large  cabinets  are  necessary  to  enable  instructors 
to  make  new  discoveries  in  science,  and  trace  out  new  religious 
illustrations.  With  small  collections  the  prospect  of  finding 
undescribed  objects  would  be  small.  And  in  this  fact,  not  in 
want  of  ability,  do  we  see  a  reason  why  so  few  professors  of 
natural  history  add  many  new  facts  to  their  departments,  or 
suggest  new  illustrations  of  religion.  True,  the  want  of  the 
great  standard  books  on  these  subjects  published  in  Europe  in 
our  libraries,  is  another  almost  equally  powerful  obstacle  to 
new  discoveries  as  the  want  of  specimens.  But  what  a  pity 
that  in  both  these  ways  our  professors  should  be  deprived  of  a 
credit  they  ought  to  have  the  power  to  attain,  and  be  com 
pelled  to  put  into  the  hands  of  European  naturalists  every 
object  apparently  new  which  they  meet,  because  they  are 
afraid  to  describe  it,  lest  it  should  have  been  already  described 
by  transatlantic  naturalists. 

It  is  for  such  reasons  that  I  have  &lt  justified  in  devoting 
so  much  time  and  effort  during  thirty-eight  years,  to  build  up 
and  fill  the  Cabinets  at  Amherst.  I  have  no  expectation  or 
wish  to  give  the  subjects  of  natural  history  here  an  undue 
prominence,  but  only  to  make  them  subserve  the  objects  I 
have  specified,  and  to  do  something  towards  sustaining  the 
credit  and  popularity  of  the  institution.  All  the  departments 


THE  LIBRARIES.  115 

ought  to  unite  in  an  object  so  important  to  science  and  religion, 
not  forgetting  that  "  united  they  stand,  divided  they  fall,"  and 
that  what  strengthens  one  strengthens  the  whole,  and  what 
weakens  one  weakens  the  whole. 

5.    THE  LIBRARIES. 

When  the  College  was  started  and  efforts  to  obtain  subscrip 
tions  were  made  extensively,  of  course  the  library  was  not 
forgotten,  and  quite  a  large  lot  of  books  were  obtained.  But 
most  of  them,  though  excellent  for  giving  instruction  in  prac 
tical  piety,  were  not  well  adapted  for  a  literary  institution.  It 
was  not  till  1829  that  any  effort  was  made  that  enabled  the 
institution  to  obtain  standard  works  in  literature  and  science. 
In  connection  with  the  subject  of  temperance  John  Tappan, 
Esq.,  made  a  donation  of  $500,  which  became  the  nest  egg  for 
nearly  $4,000,  with  which  Professor  Hovey  made  very  valu 
able  purchases  of  books  in  Europe.  The  details  of  this  case 
are  too  interesting  to  be  lost,  and  I  shall  give  them  in  connec 
tion  with  the  history  of  temperance. 

In  describing  the  erection  of  the  present  library  building  I 
have  given  some  account  of  the  donations  and  efforts  of  Hon. 
David  Sears,  John  Tappan,  Esq.,  George  Merriam,  Esq.,  and 
others,  to  increase  the  library.  Mr.  Sears'  first  bequest  was 
made  in  1844,  and  another  in  1847,  each  of  the  estimated 
value  of  $5,000,  to  form  a  Permanent  Literary  and  Benevolent 
Fund,  one  object  of  which  was  the  formation  of  a  library.  A 
portion  of  the  income  is  to  be  annually  added  to  the  principal, 
so  as  to  make  it  an  accumulating  fund,  to  whose  increase,  so 
far  as  any  conditions  have  yet  come  to  light,  there  is  no  limit, 
and  Mr.  Sears  actually  gives  directions  how  it  shall  be  treated 
when  it  reaches  $200,000.  A  part  of  the  income  at  present 
is  used  for  the  purchase  of  books  to  commence  the  Sears 
Foundation;  especially  are  $120  annually  to  be  thus  used 
for  the  next  sixty  years.  Here  then  are  obviously  the  means 
for  an  immense  library  for  future  generations.  How  soon 
it  will  become  a  powerful  feeder  to  the  constant  wants  of  a 


116  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

college  library  I  am  unable  to  determine  after  reading  over 
many  times  the  elaborate  papers  of  Mr.  Sears  conveying  the 
property.  Moreover,  the  slightest  deviation  from  the 
conditions  stated,  will  forfeit  the  whole. 

As  early  as  1842  John  Tappan  had  given  $1,000  for  the 
purchase  of  books,  which  furnished  an  invaluable  addition. 
Not  much  more  was  done  to  increase  their  number  till  the 
bequest  of  Mr.  Sears  above  described.  Next  came  the  effort 
already  described  in  giving  an  account  of  the  library  building, 
by  Mr.  George  Merriam's  donation  of  $1,500  and  the  subscrip 
tion  which  followed,  by  which  that  sum  was  raised  to  $15,000. 
Of  this  sum,  $10,000  were  used  in  1852  for  a  building,  and 
the  remainder  for  books. 

Many  years  ago  a  plan  was  started  among  graduates  of  the 
College  to  endow  an  Alumnus  Professorship,  and  a  considerable 
amount  was  subscribed  towards  it.  But  as  the  project  lingered, 
it  was  finally  concluded  to  change  the  object,  and  raise,  if 
possible,  $5,000  for  books,  to  be  expended  by  the  graduates 
themselves.  Dr.  George  Shepard  started  the  subscription 
with  $1,000,  and  the  sum  was  finally  secured,  and  has  now,  I 
believe,  all,  or  nearly  all,  been  expended. 

By  the  death  of  Hon.  Jonathan  Phillips,  in  1861,  it  appeared 
that  he  had  left  in  his  will  the  sum  of  $5,000  to  be  expended 
in  books.  This,  I  believe,  has  not  yet  been  laid  out. 

As  the  result  of  these  various  efforts  the  College  library  now 
contains  over  22,000  volumes.  Each  of  the  two  literary  soci 
eties,  the  Athenian  and  Alexandrian,  possess  5,000  volumes, 
and  the  Society  of  Inquiry,  200  volumes.  The  whole  num 
ber  of  books  in  the  libraries  of  the  College  is  32,200  volumes. 
We  wish  that  all  the  other  great  interests  of  the  institution 
were  as  well  provided  for  their  future  increase  as  we  have 
seen  this  to  be.  And  surely  it  should  be  a  leading  object  with 
the  friends  of  the  College  to  get  the  funds  into  such  a  state 
that  all  its  departments  should  have  substantial  means  of  a 
steady  support  and  expansion,  in  spite  of  all  outward  fluctua 
tions  and  reverses  in  their  condition. 


FINANCIAL  HISTORY.  117 


SECTION    IV. 

FINANCIAL    HISTORY. 

For  the  first  quarter  of  a  century  Amherst  College  had  to 
depend  entirely  on  the  patronage  and  benefactions  of  individ 
uals.  She  expended  no  small  sum  in  repeated  efforts  to  obtain 
a  charter,  and  afterwards  in  a  succession  of  applications  for 
pecuniary  assistance  from  the  government  of  the  State ;  but 
not  till  the  year  1846  did  she  receive  a  dollar  from  the  public 
treasury.  Those  only  who  have  had  the  experience  know  how 
much  more  of  money  than  is  anticipated  is  required  to  start 
and  carry  onward  and  upward  a  literary  institution  of  high 
character.  Did  they  know  it  beforehand  not  a  few  would 
shrink  from  the  effort  because  apparently  hopeless.  The  effort 
was  particularly  difficult  in  the  case  of  Amherst  College, 
because  the  founders  from  the  first  took  the  high  ground  that 
education  in  the  new  seminary  should  be  as  thorough  and 
elevated  as  in  the  oldest  and  best  colleges  of  the  land.  And 
this  promise  they  carried  through,  so  that  from  the  first  the 
graduates  at  Amherst  have  been  able  to  stand  shoulder  to 
shoulder  with  those  from  all  other  institutions,  in  the  profes 
sional  schools  and  in  public  life.  The  very  earliest  of  the 
classes  furnished  such  men  as  Professor  E.  S.  Snell,  Dr.  David 
O.  Allen,  the  missionary,  Professors  Bela  B.  Edwards,  George 
Shepard,  of  Bangor,  and  Charles  U.  Shepard. 

But  the  ability  to  sustain  so  high  a  standard  was  not  the  result 
of  large  benefactions  from  wealthy  men.  For  a  time,  indeed, 
the  agents  danced  attendance  upon  such.  But  Providence  did 
not  mean  that  the  main  object  of  the  enterprise  should  be  thus 
frustrated,  and  that  was,  to  enlist  the  religious  public  generally 
— to  make  it,  in  fact,  a  religious  college.  Hence  its  founders 


118  REMINISCENCES  OF  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

were  obliged  to  resort  to  the  community  in  general,  and  the 
subscriptions  ranged  from  two  or  three  thousand  dollars  down, 
it  is  said,  to  six  cents.  Certain  it  is  that  during  the  erection 
of  the  two  first  dormitory  buildings,  subscriptions  were  made 
in  small  quantities  of  building  materials,  of  days'  works  in  the 
erection,  and  of  food  for  the  workmen,  so  that  for  the  first 
building,  certainly,  no  great  debt  was  incurred,  although  its 
cost  could  hardly  have  been  less  than  $10,000.  But  the  men 
engaged  in  the  enterprise  were  borne  onward  by  such  fervid 
enthusiasm  that  the  idea  of  running  in  debt  was  a  small 
matter.  In  one  instance  they  brought  joiners  to  do  the  work 
before  the  materials  were  procured,  and  then  went  out  and 
presented  this  fact  as  a  reason  for  making  subscriptions,  and 
were  successful. 

The  large  number  of  students  that  flocked  to  the  new  Col 
lege  soon  after  its  commencement,  though  yet  unrecognized  by 
the  civil  authorities,  and  encountering  powerful  opposition, 
greatly  encouraged  its  founders  and  led  them  to  the  conclusion 
that  God  sanctioned  their  efforts,  and.  therefore  they  were 
bound  to  provide  accommodations  and  instruction  for  all  who 
came,  even  though  heavy  debts  might  be  incurred ;  for  who 
could  doubt  that  God  would  raise  up  men  in  his  own  time  to 
liquidate  such  debts  ?  Accordingly  it  was  resolved  to  proceed 
at  once  to  erect  a  second  dormitory  building,  which  would  at 
once  be  filled.  Money  was  obtained  in  part  by  subscriptions. 
In  addition  to  the  Charity  Fund  of  $50,000,  which  had  been 
filled  up  in  1819  or  1820,  but  which  could  not  be  used  for 
building,  another  subscription  for  $30,000  was  started,  and  I 
believe  nominally  filled  up,  though  much  of  it  was  never  paid, 
and  probably  all  that  was  paid,  as  it  came  in  slowly,  was 
needed  for  current  expenses,  so  that  for  erecting  the  new 
building  it  was  necessary  to  depend  on  borrowing  money. 
But  here  was  a  difficulty.  What  security  could  the  Trustees 
or  Treasurer  give  for  the  payment  ?  They  had  nothing  but  a 
single  building,  of  no  value  except  for  a  college,  and  the 
Charity  Fund  yet  only  partially  collected.  They  could,  how- 


DOUBTFUL   EXPEDIENTS.  119 

ever,  borrow  of  that  fund  as  it  came  in,  and  they  did  so  to  what 
extent  I  know  not.  But  I  must  think  the  right  to  do  this  was 
very  questionable.  For  it  was  in  fact  converting  money  which 
had  been  obtained  for  educating  indigent  young  men,  to  other 
purposes,  since  there  was  no  adequate  security,  and  had  the 
whole  enterprise  failed  I  doubt  not  this  course  would  have 
been  quoted  as  a  perversion  of  funds.  The  College,  after  a 
long  and  desperate  struggle,  triumphed  over  its  pecuniary 
embarrassments,  and  was  therefore  able  to  pay  all  its  indebt 
edness  to  the  Charity  Fund,  and  hence  the  correctness  of  this 
course  was  never  called  in  question.  Nor  has  it  been  subse 
quently,  when  money  has  been  borrowed  from  the  endowments 
of  professorships,  to  erect  buildings.  I  exonerate  every  one 
of  the  men  who  have  acted  on  this  principle  from  any  inten 
tional  infringement  of  right  or  justice  or  obligation.  For 
every  one  of  them  would  go  to  the  stake  rather  than  violate 
the  feeblest  dictate  of  conscience.  But  such  men  may  mistake 
in  judgment,  as  well  as  others.  My  own  opinion  is  that  they 
did  in  this  instance.  But  I  may  be  alone  in  these  views ;  for 
I  believe  it  is  not  an  unusual  occurrence  in  the  like  circum 
stances  for  men  wiser  and  better  than  I  am,  who  act  as  trustees 
of  some  public  trust,  to  borrow  from  their  own  funds  when 
they  cannot  offer  sufficient  security  to  moneyed  men  to  induce 
them  to  make  loans.  But  how  can  they  be  justified  as  a  board 
of  trustees  in  doing  what  they  would  not  probably  do  if  acting 
as  individuals  in  their  own  private  affairs  ? 

The  Trustees  of  Amherst  College,  however,  did  find  not  a 
few,  who,  either  because  they  judged  it  a  safe  investment  or 
more  probably  from  a  benevolent  regard  to  the  enterprise, 
were  willing  to  lend  their  money  to  carry  it  forward.  And 
the  opportunity  was  largely  improved.  To  erect  a  second 
college  building,  and  in  182G  the  chapel  building,  required  at 
least  $25,000,  and  several  thousands  more  to  meet  other 
expenses.  We  need  not,  therefore,  be  surprised  to  find  that 
in  1827  the  College  was  over  $30,000  in  debt.  The  following 
details  of  this  indebtedness  have  just  been  handed  to  me 


120  REMINISCENCES   OP    AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

(February,  18G2)  by  my  venerable  friend,  Hon.  John  Leland, 
who  was  then  College  Treasurer.  I  give  the  list  because  it 
shows  some  of  the  names  that  were  willing  to  trust  the  College 
in  those  early  times,  though  most  of  them  demanded  ample 
security,  and  because  it  shows  how  much  was  borrowed  from 
the  Charity  Fund. 

Hon.  T.  Winthrop,  of  Boston,        .        .        . ;  $1,50000 

Deacon  Warren,  of  Charlestown,  .         .        .        .        ."  1,000  00 

Kev.  Warren  Fay,  of  Charlestown,         .                 .        .  700  00 

llev.  Mr.  Tolman, 500  00 

Hon.  Heman  Lincoln,      .        .        .         .        .        .        .  500  00 

Rev.  James  Taylor,         .......  70  00 

Rev.  Mr.  Colburn,   .        .        .        .     .    .        ...        „  '      350  00 

Rev.  E.  Perkins,      .        . '       .        .        .        ...  530  00 

Silas  Cowles,  .        .        .        .        .        .•.'.'.  1,000  00 

John  Hopkins,  Northampton,  .     '   .        .     •  .        .        .  4,000  00 

Mrs.  Phebe  Moore,  (Dr.  Moore's  widow,)       .        .        .  2,000  00 

Jason  Mixter,  Hardwick,         .        .        .         .        .        .  1,66G  67 

Mrs.  Dr.  Humphrey,        .        .        .        .        ...  600  00 

Hon.  John  Hooker, .        .        .        .        .        .        ."  700  00 ' 

Sunderland  Bank,    .                          .  "     .        .'        .        .  3,000  00 

Charity  Fund,  .       \.        .        .        .      . .        .        .        .  10,850  00 

Sundry  debts,  .        .        .....      -  .       - .  1,200  00 


$30,166  67 

Whether  this  debt  ever  rose  higher  than  $30,000  I  have 
not  been  able  to  determine.  But  I  do  know  that  up  to  1846 
it  hung  like  a  terrible  incubus  upon  the  Trustees,  the  Treas 
urer,  and  the  whole  College,  and  came  near  proving  its  ruin. 
It  was  a  desperate  conflict  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and 
had  not  the  men  engaged  in  it  been  able,  energetic  and  self- 
denying,  .it  would  have  choked  the  institution  to  death.  It  is 
easy  to  see  how  watchful  the  Treasurer  must  have  been  to 
meet  the  interest  and.  the  payment  of  the  numerous  notes  as 
they  became  due.  In  most  cases  the  payment  of  one  note 
could  be  made  only  by  borrowing  somewhere  else,  or  becom 
ing  personally  responsible,  as  Deacon  Leland  and  Lucius 


EARLY   SACRIFICES.  121 

Boltwood  sometimes  did,  probably  nearly  to  the  extent  of 
their  private  property.  When  an  exigency  peculiarly  trying 
occurred,  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees  would  be  called,  and  some 
plan  would  be  devised  to  save  the  College ;  and  I  am  assured 
by  Mr.  Leland,  and  I  doubt  not  the  same  has  been  true  since 
the  present  Treasurer  came  into  office,  that  no  note  or  demand 
that  was  due  ever  failed  to  be  met  in  season  to  prevent  its 
being  protested,  which  is  certainly  a  strong  testimony  to  the 
fidelity  and  ability  of  the  Treasurers  and  all  concerned. 

There  was  one  pecuniary  exigency  of  the  kind  above  described, 
which  I  ought  to  have  mentioned  earlier,  because  it  happened  almost 
at  the  commencement  of  the  enterprise,  and  I  happen  to  have  a  list 
of  the  men  who  came  to  the  rescue.  After  the  utmost  efforts,  the 
Charity  Fund  fell  $15,000  short  of  the  sum  aimed  at  ($50,000)  as 
essential  to  make  any  subscription  good ;  and  this,  too,  just  before  a 
committee  of  the  legislature  were  to  examine  into  the  affairs  of  the 
College,  with  sagacious  enemies,  determined  to  prove  the  whole  a 
fraud  and  a  failure.  The  following  ten  men  signed  a  bond  to  pro 
vide  for  the  payment  of  the  lacking  $15,000 : — 

Samuel  F.  Dickinson,  Jarib  White,  David  Parsons,  Elijah  Bolt- 
wood,  Hezekiah  W.  Strong,  Enos  Baker,  John  Leland,  Calvin 
Merrill. 

Of  Mr.  Dickinson  I  have  spoken  in  another  place.  Jarib  White 
was  one  of  the  wealthy  farmers  of  the  town,  who  had  lately  become 
a  merchant,  and  during  the  whole  struggle  labored  with  a  true  Puft- 
tan  spirit.  Dr.  Parsons  was  the  pastor  of  the  church  in  Amherst, 
and  highly  respected  through  the  land.  Elijah  Boltwood  for  a  long 
time  kept  the  hotel  in  Amherst,  on  the  site  of  the  present  Amherst 
House.  Hezekiah  W.  Strong  was  a  respectable  lawyer  and  mer 
chant,  who  was  always  ready  to  help  on  the  work.  Enos  Baker  was 
a  respectable  farmer,  who  lived  near  the  College,  as  was  also  Calvin 
Merrill,  men,  it  seems,  ready  to  stand  in  the  breach  in  perilous 
times.  Of  John  Leland  I  need  say  nothing  more  in  this  place. 

It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  these  men,  who  took  this  risk  upon 
them,  after  having  subscribed  in  other  ways  as  much  as  they  thought 
it  their  duty  to  give,  were  able  to  provide  others  to  take  this  respon 
sibility  upon  their  shoulders.  But  the  entire  country,  at  least  the 
central  part  of  New  England,  had  been  gone  over  by  agents,  and 
they  would  have  failed  had  not  the  legislature  sent  a  committee  to 
investigate  the  affairs  of  the  enterprise,  and  its  enemies  threatened 
G 


122  REMINISC        'ES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

also  to  make  a  formidable  attack.  Under  these  circumstances  gen 
tlemen  were  found  without  difficulty  who  made  up  a  purse  of  $15,000 
to  meet  the  exigency,  and  relieve  the  generous  signers  of  the  bond. 
See  in  this  result  the  benefit  of  having  active  enemies  when  engaged 
in  a  good  cause.  Sanballat,  and  Tobiah,  and  Geshem,  are  a  very 
useful  class  of  persons,  when  God's  providential  hook  is  in  their 
nose  and  his  bridle  between  their  lips. 

To  meet  all  the  wants  of  the  College  and  the  interest  and 
payments  on  the  debt,  it  became  necessary  to  resort  to  the  most 
vigorous  measures.  As  early  as  182 G  the  Trustees  had  applied 
for  aid  to  the  State  legislature.  This  was  repeated  in  1830, 
and  several  times  afterwards,  at  intervals  of  a  few  years. 
But  constantly  repulsed,  they  made  energetic  appeals  to  indi 
vidual  liberality,  by  means  of  agents.  At  the  commencement 
of  the  enterprise  every  man  acted  as  agent,  though  some  were 
specially  appointed.  But  in  1829  Rev.  Dr.  Vaill  received  a 
permanent  appointment,  and  up  to  1845  devoted  much  time 
to  the  work.  In  1841,  when  he  was  reappointed,  he  left  his 
pastoral  charge  that  he  might  devote  his  whole  time  to  the 
work.  In  1832,  several  other  gentlemen  were  appointed 
agents,  with  Dr.  Humphrey  at  their  head,  viz.,  Prof.  Fiske, 
Dr.  Vaill,  Rev.  Sylvester  Holmes,  Rev.  Calvin  Hitchcock 
and  Rev.  Richard  S.  Storrs,  to  make  an  appeal  to  the  public 
for  $50,000.  At  another  time  an  attempt  was  made  to  raise 
$100,000 ;  but  I  cannot  ascertain  how  far  these  efforts  were 
successful.  I  only  know  that  the  most  vigorous  labors  of  the 
agents  were  barely  sufficient  to  keep  the  wheels  in  motion, 
and  pay,  often  tardily,  the  rather  small  salaries  of  the  officers 
and  the  interest  on  the  debt.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Vaill,  the  general 
agent,  was  industrious  and  faithful,  and  very  successful,  when 
we  consider  the  obstacles  in  his  way.  He  struggled  manfully, 
and  carried  the  College  forward  for  years,  when  without  his 
efforts  it  must  have  become  bankrupt. 

But  this  was  a  Sisyphean  labor,  and  all  concerned  found 
that  the  stone  would  work  farther  down  hill,  in  spite  of  all 
their  efforts  to  push  it  upwards.  For  though  they  were  able 


EFFECTS   OF   DEBT.  123 

to  keep  the  College  in  operation,  and  even  perhaps  at  times 
considerably  to  reduce  its  indebtedness,  yet  other  effects  unan 
ticipated,  but  of  serious  import,  followed. 

1.  In  the  first  place  it  prevented  nearly  all  improvement 
in  the  means  of  instruction,  such  as  apparatus,  cabinets  and 
books ;   also  all  improvement  in  the  external  aspect  of  the 
College,  such  as  its  buildings  and  grounds.     Every  thing  wore 
the  appearance  of  poverty  and  dilapidation,  such  as  unpainted 
buildings,  and  muddy  and  break-neck  sidewalks ;  and  if  the 
educated  man  looked  in  upon  the  libraries  and  cabinets  he 
saw  that  they  were  very  meagre,  and  not  fit  for  a  college  in 
the  nineteenth  century  that  made  such  pretensions. 

2.  The  inevitable  effect  of  such  a  state  of  things  was  a 
reduction  of  the  number  of  students.     In  the  first  fifteen  years 
it  had  gone  up  rapidly  to  two  hundred  and  fifty-nine,  but  in 
the  nine  following  years  it  had  sunk  to  one  hundred  and 
ciu'liteen.     The  students  and  the  public  saw  that  every  thing 
was  going  wrong,  and  though  they  understood  very  little  of 
the  cause,  they  preferred  to  go  where  there  was  progress.     It 
gave  the  enemies  of  the  institution  also  a  fine  opportunity  to 
disparage  it,  and  to  show  that  they  were  right  in  predicting 
its  ephemeral  existence. 

3.  The  unpopularity  of  the  College  was  made  still  greater 
by  the  repeated  applications  that  were  made  through  agents 
for  pecuniary  aid,    year  after  year.      The  public  at  length 
became  exceedingly  nervous  under  these  solicitations,  and  even 
the  best  friends  of  the   College  began  to  despair  of  its  success 
unless  some  different  system  could  be  adopted. 

4.  Such  a  state  of  things  almost  inevitably  produces  the 
impression,  both  in  College  and  abroad,  that  some  particular 
officer  or  officers  have  become  unfit  for  their  place,  and  should 
resign.     In  this  case  the  suspicion  fell  upon   Dr.  Humphrey, 
and  nothing  but  his  resignation,  it  was  thought  among  students, 
graduates   and   some   trustees,  could   stop  the  extraordinary 
stampede  which  must  soon  leave  the  College  without  inmates. 
A  famous  case  of  discipline  a  few  years  before  had  implanted 


124  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

strong  prejudices  against  the  Doctor  in  many  minds,  and  now 
the  pretence  was  that  he  had  reached  incipient  dotage, 
although  not  over  sixty-five.  He  did  resign ;  but  his  subse 
quent  history  showed  that  he  was  as  well  qualified,  physically, 
intellectually  and  spiritually,  as  he  had  ever  been,  for  the  place, 
and  had  there  been  funds  enough  to  carry  on  the  College  inde 
pendently,  I  fancy  that  we  should  never  have  heard  any  thing 
of  the  unpopularity  of  Dr.  Humphrey.  Indeed,  he  lived  to 
see  the  institution  raised  out  of  the  slough,  and  he  found  that 
no  man  .was  more  popular  or  respected  than  he  whenever  he 
came  back  on  public  occasions. 

But  though  we  who  were  behind  the  scenes  and  managing 
the  ropes  knew  the  cause,  it  did  not  make  the  fact  any  the  less 
certain  that  the  College  had  reached  a  painful  crisis,  and  that 
something  must  be  done  or  it  would  soon  be  too  far  gone  for 
resuscitation.  For  eight  or  ten  years  I  had  watched  its  down 
ward  tendency  with  great  anxiety,  and  each  Commencement 
season  seemed  to  my  desponding  temperament  more  like  a 
College  funeral  than  a  holiday.  Yet  I  was  hardly  prepared 
for  a  suggestion  made  to  me  about  the  time  when  I  assumed 
the  Presidency  in  1845,  whether  it  would  not  be  best  to  change 
the  College  into  an  Academy  of  a  high  grade.  I  knew  that 
the  enemies  of  the  institution  began  to  exult  in  the  prospect 
of  a  result  even  more  disastrous  than  this ;  but  I  hardly 
expected  such  a  suggestion  from  a  Trustee  of  excellent  judg 
ment.  The  fact,  however,  will  show  into  how  trying  a  condi 
tion  the  College  had  sunk,  and  that  it  was  not  a  im-ru 
hallucination  of  my  morbid  fancy.  The  Trustees  and  officers 
knew  the  grand  cause  of  our  troubles ;  but  the  world  around 
us  imputed  it  to  our  inefficiency  and  want  of  personal  popularity 
that  we  did  not  keep  the  institution  so  popular  and  at  so  high 
a  standard  as  to  attract  more  students. 

But  what  could  we  do  to  arrest  this  downward  tendency 
and  recover  our  lost  position  ?  Tlii*  was  the  question  that 
met  me  with  emphasis  when  called  to  assume  the  Presidency 
in  1845.  Two  things  seemed  indispensable.  The  first  was  to 


AGREEMENT   WITH   THE   PROFESSORS.  125 

stop  the  College  from  running  in  debt.  The  second  was  to 
cease  soliciting  the  public  for  aid  through  agents.  The  follow 
ing  plan  occurred  to  us.  Let  the  instructors  propose  for  a 
limited  period  to  take  the  College  into  their  hands  and  agree 
to  carry  it  forward  for  whatever  sum  may  be  derived  from  tuition 
and  other  ordinary  sources  of  income,  provided  the  Trustees 
will  discontinue  the  services  of  their  agent.  This  proposal 
met  the  views  of  the  Trustees,  and  the  following  are  the  details 
of  the  plan  as  finally  adopted. 

1.  The  income  from  term  bills   and  from  the  property  of  the 
College,  which  now  yields  income  subject  to  be  used  to  pay  debts  or 
defray  the  current  and  ordinary  expenses  of  the  College,  shall  be 
placed  under  the  direction  of  the  President  and  Professors,  being 
collected  and  disbursed  in  the  manner  it  now  is,  and  shall  be  used 
solely  for  the  payment  of  salaries  and  the  current  expenses  of  the 
College,  as  the  President  and  Professors  may  judge  expedient,  and 
no  part  thereof  shall  be  used  for  paying  interest  or  principal  of  the 
College  debt. 

2.  The  salaries  of  the  President  and  Professors  in  the  College 
shall  be  for  the  President,  $1,000,  and  for  each  Professor,  $800  per 
annum,  or  in  that  proportion,  and  shall  be  determined  and  divided 
by  them  from  the  income  of  the  College,  as  above  named,  &c. 

3.  The  President  and  Professors  may  perform  all  the  duties  of 
instruction,  or  under  their  recommendation  the  Trustees  will  appoint 
a  Tutor  or  instructor,  in  either  branch  of  instruction  in  College,  to 
be  compensated  from  the  funds  placed  under  the  direction  of  the 
President  and  Professors. 

4.  The  appropriations  to  be  made  for  chapel  services,  for  repairs 
of  the  buildings,  the  Laboratory,  the  Philosophical  Department,  the 
care  of  the  Library,  expenses  of  Commencement,  of  attending  to 
wood,  fires,  lights,  &c.,  in  College  and  around  it,  and  for  all  ordi 
nary  current  expenses,  shall  be  under  the  direction  of  the  President 
and  Professors,  and  defrayed  from  the  funds  aforesaid. 

5.  (Essentially  embraced  in  No.  6.) 

G.  The  arrangements  above  proposed  shall  take  effect  whenever 
the  President  and  Professors  shall  all  signify  their  assent  thereto  in 
writing,  signed  by  them,  and  delivered  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees,  who  shall  enter  the  same  on  the  records  of  the 
Board,  &c. 


126  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHEBST   COLLEGE. 

7.  The  agency  for  the  solicitation  of  funds  from  the  community 
shall  cease  with  the  termination  of  the  present  collegiate  year,  and 
sooner  if  the  agent  shall  have  previously  secured  or  collected  the 
sums  already  subscribed. 

It  is  to  be  understood  that  the  Trustees  in  agreeing  to  the  fore 
going  arrangements,  while  they  manifest  great  confidence  in  the 
wisdom,  ability  and  fidelity  of  the  said  Professors,  do  in  no  wise 
surrender  their  charge  and  trust  of  the  great  interests  of  Amherst 
College.  Nor  is  it  conceived,  either  by  said  Trustees  or  Professors, 
that  the  amount  of  instruction  to  be  given  in  College  is  to  be  dimin 
ished,  nor  the  standard  of  education  lowered.  To  elevate  that 
standard  and  improve  the  finances  of  the  College,  are  the  objects  in 
view. — Records  of  the  Trustees,  p.  127. 

The  officers  of  instruction  in  1845,  when  this  arrangement 
went  into  effect,  were  myself  as  President,  and  Professors 
Warner,  Fiske,  Snell,  Shepard  and  Tyler.  I  find  a  written 
assent  on  the  Trustee  Records,  as  required  by  the  above 
agreement,  of  all  the  gentlemen  except  Professor  "Warner, 
who  had  only  recently  joined  the  College.  But  as  he  was 
known  to  be  in  favor  of  the  plan  it  was  suffered  to  go  into 
operation. 

In  my  Report  to  the  Trustees  the  next  year,  after  the  plan 
had  been  in  operation  a  little  more  than  a  year,  I  stated  that 
though  impossible  to  determine  exactly  what  would  be  the 
amount  of  our  salaries,  we  had  then  received  as  follows: 
Myself,  $550,  each  professor  $440.  But  Hon.  Samuel  Wil- 
liston  had  generously  presented  us  with  $300,  and  Hon. 
Andrew  W.  Porter  with  $200,  increasing  my  receipts  to  $710 
and  those  of  the  professors  to  $525.  What  amount  was  real 
ized  the  next  two  years,  I  am  unable  to  state,  but  at  the  close 
of  the  three  years'  trial,  when  the  pecuniary  state  of  the 
College  was  wonderfully  changed,  the  Trustees  directed  the 
Treasurer  to  pay  the  officers  whatever  deficiencies  had  existed 
in  their  salaries,  with  interest.  This  was  neither  suggested 
nor  expected  by  the  professors,  who  made  the  sacrifice  uncon 
ditionally.  Nor  was  this  the  first  time  when  they  were  called 
to  such  a  sacrifice,  for  only  the  year  before  they  were  request- 


PROFESSORS   WARNER  AND   TYLER.  127 

ed  to  yield  $200  of  their  salaries,  which  they  did  cheerfully. 
As  shown  by  the  above  agreement  they  were  then  reduced  per 
manently  by  that  amount.  From  1827  to  1836,  it  had  been 
$800.  It  was  then  raised  to  $1,000,  and  continued  thus  till 
1845.  The  three  following  years  we  got  what  we  could,  and 
in  1848  it  was  raised  to  $900.  Since  then  it  has  been  made 
higher  once  or  twice,  and  is  now  $1,200.  That  of  the  Presi 
dent  is  $1,500,  with  enough  from  perquisites,  including  $100 
for  preaching,  to  raise  it  to  nearly  $2,000. 

PROF.  AARON  WARNER,  D.  D. 

Knowing  thoroughly  the  gentlemen  with  whom  I  was  asso 
ciated,  I  felt  confident  that  if  the  experiment  we  had  under 
taken  would  succeed  in  any  hands,  it  would  be  theirs.  I  have 
already  given  some  facts  respecting  all  of  them,  showing  my 
views  of  their  character,  save  Professors  Warner  and  Tyler. 
The  former  had  indeed  but  recently  joined  us,  but  he  had 
shown  himself  in  other  important  positions  to  be  of  the  right 
stamp  for  carrying  on  a  great  Christian  enterprise.  As  pastor 
of  a  church  in  Medford,  and  professor  in  the  Gilmanton  Theo 
logical  Seminary,  he  was  well  known  by  literary  and  religious 
men.  Though  talented  and  well  acquainted  with  the  various 
branches  of  literature,  yet  all  his  acquirements  were  subordi 
nated  to  piety,  and  wherever  duty  pointed  he  followed,  and 
whatever  sacrifices  that  demanded  were  cheerfully  made. 
His  work  was  performed  ably  yet  noiselessly,  not  to  gain 
popular  applause  but  to  satisfy  his  conscience  and  please  God  ; 
and  though  he  resigned  his  place  several  years  ago,  he  still 
resides  in  the  town,  the  amiable,  Christian  gentleman,  devoted 
to  letters  and  to  doing  good. 

PROF.  W.  S.  TYLER,  D.  D. 

William  S.  Tyler  joined  the  senior  class  in  1829,  at 
Amherst,  and  graduated  in  1830,  with  the  second  honor. 
He  served  as  tutor  from  1832  to  1834.  In  1836  he  was 
appointed  Professor  of  Latin  and  Greek,  which  chair  he  held 


128  REMINISCENCES   OF  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

till  1847,  when  he  became  Professor  of  Greek  and  Hebrew, 
which  place  he  still  holds,  so  that  he  has  been  professor  twenty- 
seven  years,  and  it  is  thirty-one  years  since  he  became  con 
nected  with  the  Faculty.  He  has  ever  been  an  indefatigable 
student,  and  most  faithful  in  every  position  he  has  occupied. 
Pie  has  not  those  qualities  which  give  a  man  brilliant  success 
at  first,  but  become  less  attractive  after  a  time,  and  even  make 
him,  perhaps,  unpopular.  On  the  other  hand,  his  early  efforts 
were  not  very  successful  in  securing  popular  favor.  But  those 
who  could  read  character  best  saw  in  his  superior  natural  abili 
ties,  his  unflinching  fidelity  and  habits  of  study,  the  germ  of 
future  eminence.  Accordingly  his  course  has  been  steadily 
onward  and  upward  in  scholarship,  in  reputation  as  an  instructor 
and  a  Christian.  The  numerous  learned  articles  he  has  pub 
lished  in  the  journals,  and  his  notes  upon  the  classics,  have  given 
him  a  high  rank  among  American  scholars,  and  his  work  on 
Prayer  for  the  Colleges,  and  the  Life  of  Dr.  Lobdell,  have 
given  him  a  like  rank  among  religious  writers.  The  Univer 
sity  of  Cambridge,  in  testimony  of  their  high  sense  of  his 
merits,  conferred  on  him  in  1857  the  degree  of  Doctor  in 
Divinity. 

The  qualities  which  have  made  Professor  Tyler  so  great  a 
blessing  to  the  College,  have  been  his  promptness  and  fidelity 
in  every  literary  duty,  and  his  energetic  efforts  for  the  religious 
welfare  of  the  students.  It  is  one  thing  to  have  an  officer  in 
college  brilliant  and  talented,  sure  to  be  applauded  in  an  off 
hand  speech,  but  negligent  in  his  daily  duties,  and  refusing  all 
extra  labor,  and  quite  another  thing,  to  have  one  always  at 
his  post  five  minutes  before  the  time,  performing  with  equal 
promptness  unpleasant  as  well  as  pleasant  duties,  not  seeking 
by  story-telling  and  other  clap-trap,  to  get  applause,  but 
striving  thoroughly  to  drill  and  to  fix  principles  in  the  minds 
of  his  pupils  ;  not  waiting  to  be  compelled,  but  voluntarily 
offering  to  perform,  extra  duties  in  those  exigencies  that  are 
frequently  occurring  in  the  management  of  a  college.  Dr. 
Tyler  has  always  belonged  decidedly  to  the  latter  class,  and 


THE  EXPERIMENT.  129 

has  done  very  much  to  make  the  machine  move  freely  and 
easily.  Equally  prompt  and  faithful  has  he  been  in  public 
and  private  efforts  for  the  religious  welfare  of  the  students. 
This  duty  he  has  regarded,  not  only  theoretically  but  practi 
cally,  as  paramount  to  every  other,  although  not  in  conflict 
with  any  other,  nor  its  performance  an  apology  for  the  neglect 
of  any  other.  But  if  they  should  come  into  conflict,  he  Avould 
give  religion  the  first  attention.  It  is  this  principle,  imper 
fectly  acted  upon,  that  has  given  Amherst  College  its  strongest 
hold  upon  the  religious  community,  and  the  secret  power  by 
which  it  has  done  what  it  has  for  the  world.  And  no  one  has 
done  more  than  Dr.  Tyler,  to  give  a  practical  elucidation  of 
the  principle. 

It  was  with  no  misgivings  then  that  I  took  hold  of  this 
financial  experiment  with  such  men,  most  of  whom  I  knew 
thoroughly  by  having  labored  with  them  so  many  years.  I 
knew  that  they  engaged  in  this  enterprise  from  religious 
motives,  and  therefore,  as  I  remarked  in  my  Valedictory 
Address  ten  years  afterward,  "  if  we  took  hold  of  the  work 
with  but  feeble  hope,  we  had  an  iron  will."  Before  the  close 
of  the  first  year,  however,  we  had  an  indication  of  the  salutary 
effect  of  the  experiment  in  the  receipt,  as  already  mentioned, 
of  $500  from  Hon.  S.  Williston  and  A.  W.  Porter.  It  seemed 
to  say  to  us,  we  will  help  those  who  are  trying  to  help  them 
selves,  and  we  had  repeated  evidence  afterward  that  such  was 
the  effect  upon  men  who  a  little  while  before  had  become  so 
tired  of  us  that  the  appearance  of  our  agent  would  produce  a 
nervous  spasm.  If  our  faith  had  been  strong  enough  we  might 
also  have  regarded  it  as  a  sure  index  of  the  greater  things 
which  Providence  was  about  to  do  for  us,  that  on  the  very  day 
of  my  inauguration  as  President  the  Trustees  voted  to  accept 
of  $20,000  from  Hon.  Samuel  Williston  as  an  endowment  of 
the  Professorship  of  Rhetoric  and  Oratory.  The  cloud,  how 
ever,  was  permitted  to  hang  heavy  upon  us  for  some  years 
more.  To  show  how  the  plans  of  Providence  were  gradually 
developed,  I  quote  from  my  Valedictory  Address  in  1854. 
r,  * 


130  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

"  Our  experiment  had  stopped  the  downward  course  of  the  College, 
and  turned,  to  some  extent,  the  prejudices  of  the  public  into  sympa 
thy  for  us.  Still  we  could  make  no  improvements  :  our  debt  pressed 
heavily  upon  us  ;  we  found  it  difficult  to  eke  out  our  deficient  sala 
ries  ;  and  though  our  numbers  slowly  increased,  the  College  seemed 
to  my  dejected  spirits  to  be  sinking  deeper  and  deeper  into  the  mire, 
and  I  became  at  length  entirely  satisfied  that  Providence  did  not  at 
least  intend  to  make  use  of  my  instrumentality  to  bring  it  relief. 
Oh,  how  little  did  I  suspect  how  near  that  relief  was,  and  how  simply 
and  easily  God  would  alter  tke  whole  aspect  of  things  !  Indeed, 
when  the  change  came,  it  seemed  to  me  as  obviously  his  work  as 
if  I  had  seen  the  sun  and  moon  stand  still,  or  the  dead  start  out 
of  their  graves ;  and  it  appeared  as  absurd  for  me  to  boast  of  my 
agency  in  the  work,  as  for  the  wires  of  the  telegraph  to  feel  proud 
because  electricity  was  conveying  great  thoughts  through  them. 
Oh,  no  ;  let  the  glory  of  this  change  be  now  and  ever  ascribed  to  a 
special  divine  Providence. 

"  In  the  discouraging  circumstances  in  which  I  was  then  placed,  as 
already  described,  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that  I  must  resign  my 
place.  Yet  I  felt  apprehensive  that  in  the  condition  of  our  funds, 
no  one  worthy  the  place  would  feel  justified  in  assuming  it,  with  no 
certain  means  of  support.  I  therefore  determined  to  make  an  effort 
to  get  a  professorship  endowed.  And  where  was  it  more  natural  for 
me  to  look,  than  to  one  who  only  a  short  time  before  had  cheered  us 
by  the  endowment  of  a  professorship  ;  and  who,  I  trust,  will  pardon 
me  for  detailing  a  few  items  of  private  history,  not  so  much  because 
they  illustrate  his  liberality,  as  because  they  show  still  more  the 
Divine  Interposition  and  Beneficence. 

"  It  had  become  so  common  a  remark  among  the  officers  of 
Amherst  College,  that  if  any  respectable  friend  should  give  us  fifty 
thousand  dollars,  we  should  attach  his  name  to  it,  that  I  felt  sure  it 
would  be  done  ;  and  I  recollected,  too,  the  last  words  of  Professor 
Fiske,  when  lie  left  us  :  '  Amherst  College  will  be  relieved :  Mr. 
Williston  I  think  will  give  it  fifty  thousand  dollars,  and  you  will  put 
his  name  upon  it.'  I  felt  justified,  therefore,  in  saying  to  him,  that 
if  his  circumstances  would  allow  him  to  come  to  our  aid  in  this 
exigency,  by  founding  another  professorship,  I  did  not  doubt  that 
such  a  result  would  follow.  He  gave  me  to  understand  that  in  his 
will  a  professorship  was  already  endowed,  and  that  he  would  make 
it  available  at  once,  if  greatly  needed.  Nay,  he  offered  to  endow 
the  half  of  another  professorship,  provided  some  one  else  would  add 
the  other  half.  But  as  to  attaching  his  name  to  the  College,  ho 


RESORT  TO   PRAYER.  131 

felt  unwilling  that  I  should  attempt  to  fulfil  that  promise,  certainly 
during  his  life.  Be  it  so ;  but  how  can  I  avoid  bearing  my  solemn 
testimony  to  the  obligations  that  will  rest  upon  those  who  come 
after  me,  to  fulfil  my  promise  at  a  proper  time,  if  they  would  escape 
the  curse  that  follows  ingratitude  and  forfeited  faith. 

"The  half  professorship  thus  offered  was  soon  made  a  whole  one 
by  Samuel  A.  Hitchcock,  Esq.,  of  Brimfield.  And  oh,  what  a  load 
did  these  benefactions  take  from  my  mind !  For  several  years  each 
returning  Commencement  had  seemed  to  me  more  like  a  funeral 
than  a  joyful  anniversary :  for  I  saw  not  how  the  downward 
progress  of  the  College  was  to  be  arrested.  But  now  with  the  addi 
tion  of  thirty  thousand  dollars  to  our  funds,  I  began  to  hope  that  we 
might  be  saved.  But  the  kindness  of  Providence  had  other  develop 
ments  in  store  for  us. 

"  These  events  occurred  in  the  winter  of  1846,  while  the  Legisla 
ture  of  Massachusetts  was  in  session.  We  had  often  appealed  to 
them  unsuccessfully  for  help ;  and  I  feared  that  when  the  generous 
benefactions  of  individuals  should  be  made  public,  we  should  seek 
in  vain  from  that  quarter  for  the  aid  which  in  justice  should  be  given 
us.  I  therefore  requested  permission  of  the  Trustees,  by  letter,  to 
make  one  more  application  to  the  Government.  They  allowed  me 
to  do  it,  and  the  result  was  a  donation  from  the  State  of  twenty-five 
thousand  dollars.  The  passage  of  the  Resolve  met  with  less  oppo 
sition  than  on  former  occasions.  Perhaps  the  following  incident, 
communicated  to  me  by  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  may  appear 
to  the  Christian  to  be  connected  with  this  fact. 

"The  Bill  for  aiding  Amherst  College  came  up  on  Saturday,  and 
met  with  strong  and  able  opposition,  so  that  its  friends  trembled  for 
its  fate.  On  Saturday  evening  a  few  members  of  that  body  were  in 
the  habit  of  meeting  for  prayer.  That  evening  the  Bill  for  aiding 
the  College  formed  the  burthen  of  conversation  and  of  supplication, 
and  each  one  agreed  to  make  it  the  subject  of  private  prayer  on  the 
Sabbath.  Monday  came  ;  the  Bill  was  read ;  but  to  the  amazement 
of  these  praying  men,  opposition  had  almost  disappeared,  and  with  a 
few  remarks  it  was  passed.  How  could  they,  how  can  we,  avoid 
the  conviction  that  prayer  was  the  grand  agency  that  smoothed  the 
troubled  waters  and  gave  the  College  the  victory  after  so  many 
years  of  bitter  opposition  and  defeat ! 

"  In  184G,  also,  Professor  Shepard  offered  to  deposit  in  the  Col 
lege  his  splendid  collection  of  minerals,  meteorites,  fossils,  and 
animals,  provided  a  fire-proof  building  were  erected  for  its  reception. 
Conscious  that  such  an  offer  ought  not  to  be  neglected,  I  made  the 


132  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

effort  to  obtain  the  requisite  funds.  But  I  should  probably  have 
failed,  had  not  the  Hon.  Josiah  B.  Woods  come  to  my  aid.  By  his 
judicious  plans  and  persevering  personal  efforts,  nine  thousand  dol 
lars  were  ere  long  secured ;  enough  to  erect  not  merely  a  minera- 
logical,  but  a  geological  cabinet,  and  an  astronomical  observatory. 
There  seemed,  indeed,  but  a  faint  prospect  that  the  latter,  when 
it  was  erected,  would  be  supplied  with  but  a  few  of  the  requisite 
instruments.  Yet  at  the  time  of  the  dedication  of  the  building,  in 
1848,  I  remarked  that  '  we  should  be  very  faithless  and  ungrateful 
to  doubt  that  the  same  Providence,  which  has  done  so  much  for  us 
the  past  year,  will  send  us  a  fitting  telescope,  if  it  be  best  for  us  to 
have  one  ;  and  send  it  too  just  at  the  right  time.'  This  prediction, 
through  the  liberality  of  the  Hon.  Rufus  Bullock,  has  been  fulfilled ; 
and  a  noble  telescope  has  just  been  placed  in  yonder  dome,  which, 
through  the  great  skill  and  indefatigable  industry  of  Alvan  Clark, 
Esq.,  who  has  constructed  it,  is  one  of  the  finest  instruments  of  its 
size  that  ever  graced  an  observatory;  and  its  mounting  has  some 
important  improvements  never  before  introduced.  In  the  hands 
of  Mr.  Clark,  it  has  already  introduced  to  the  astronomic  world  two 
new  double  stars,  never  before  recognized ;  one  of  which  is  prob 
ably  binary.  This  discovery*  has  already  been  confirmed  and 
acknowledged  by  one  of  the  most  accomplished  observers  in  Great 
Britain.  May  we  not  hope  that  this  glass  will  perform  another 
service  for  science,  by  stirring  up  some  generous  heart  to  endow  a 
professorship  of  astronomy  in  our  College  at  no  distant  day.  This 
certainly  is  at  present  one  of  the  most  pressing  wants  of  the  institu 
tion.  It  is  not  creditable  that  the  noblest  of  the  sciences  should  be 
bandied  about  like  an  intruder,  and  be  scarcely  recognized  in  our 
catalogue." 

We  have  had  to  wait  till  1861  to  see  this  last  prediction  or 
rather  aspiration  realized.  For  the  Walker  Professorship, 
lately  endowed,  embraces  Astronomy  as  well  as  Mathematics. 

These  things  occurred  in  1846.  In  that  year,  also,  Pro 
fessor  Adams  presented  to  the  College  his  great  Zoological 
collection  and  Professor  Shepard  offered  to  deposit  his  splen 
did  cabinet  here  if  we  could  furnish  a  fire-proof  building.  In 
1847,  Hon.  David  Sears  made  an  addition  of  $12,000  to  the 
Scars  Foundation  of  Literature  and  Benevolence. 


THE   RESULTS.  133 

See  now  how  altered  was  the  condition  of  the  College! 
More  than  $100,000  had  flowed  in  upon  it  in  endowments 
and  buildings  in  a  little  more  than  two  years,  as  follows : — 

Williston  Professorship  of  Rhetoric  and  Oratory,  .  .  $20,000 
Graves  Professorship  of  the  Greek  Language  and  Literature,  20,000 
Hitchcock  Professorship  of  Natural  Theology  and  Geology,  22,000 
Donation  from  the  State,  .  .  .-  .  .  .  .  25,000 
Sears  Foundation,  .  V  •  •  v  .  .  .  12,000 
The  Woods  Cabinet  and  Observatory,  .  .  .  V  .  9,000 

$108,000 

Along  with  the  pecuniary  aid  there  came  also  a  rich  profu 
sion  of  specimens,  either  presented  or  on  deposit,  whose  value 
is  poorly  expressed  in  money.  If  only  half  their  present 
value,  we  must  add  from  $35,000  to  $40,000  to  the  above  sum. 
Was  it  enthusiasm  in  me  to  speak  of  the  change  as  follows  ? : — 

"Our  debts  were  cancelled,  and  available  funds  enough  left  to 
enable  us  to  go  on  with  economy  from  year  to  year,  and  with 
increased  means  of  instruction.  The  incubus  that  had  so  long 
rested  upon  us,  was  removed ;  the  cord  that  had  well  nigh  throttled 
us,  was  cut  asunder,  and  the  depletion  of  our  life-blood  was 
arrested.  Those  only  who  have  passed  through  such  a  season  of 
discouragement  and  weakness,  can  realize  with  what  gratitude  to 
God  and  our  benefactors  we  went  on  with  our  work.  It  seemed  to 
us,  and  does  still,  a  special  act  of  Divine  Mercy,  and  not  the  result 
of  our  wisdom  or  effort.  We  could  not  otherwise  account  for  it, 
that  the  hearts  of  so  many  generous  friends  should  have  been  simul 
taneously  opened  to  help  us,  when  again  and  again  we  had  sought 
the  same  aid  in  vain. 

"Under  such  circumstances,  as  we  might  expect,  our  numbers 
have  gone  on  increasing,  until  I  am  now  able  to  say,  that  it  is  double 
what  it  was  when  I  assumed  the  Presidency." 

The  great  additions  to  our  funds,  made  in  the  latter  part 
of  184G  and  the  first  part  of  1847,  had  not  been  made  public 
till  after  a  special  meeting  of  the  Trustees,  which  took  place 
July  6th,  1847.  This  was  the  most  delightful  Trustee  meet 
ing  I  had  ever  attended.  Those  venerable  men,  Drs.  Fiske, 


134  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

Packard,  Yaill,  Ely,  Ide,  and  John  Tappan,  William  B. 
Calhoun,  George  Grennell,  Alfred  Foster,  Samuel  Williston, 
Linus  Child,  David  Mack,  Ebenezer  %Alden  and  Henry 
Edwards,  whom  Dr.  Humphrey  and  myself  had  so  often  met 
with  a  discouraging  story  of  debt  and  an  empty  treasury, 
were  now  for  the  first  time  to  be  told  of  God's  wonderful 
goodness  in  turning  our  captivity  and  answering  their  long- 
continued  and  earnest  prayers.  They  were  to  have  a  little 
respite  before  they  died  from  the  incessant  demands  upon 
their  beneficence  and  labors,  with  which  they  had  ever  been 
met.  It  was  a  matter  of  high  gratification  to  see  how  happy 
they  were  in  their  subsequent  visits  to  Amherst,  to  see  how 
everything  was  altered  for  the  better,  as  the  fruit  of  their 
long  toil  and  sacrifice  and  prayers. 

At  the  meeting  above  described  the  most  important  votes 
passed  were  the  following : — 

Voted,  That  four  thousand  dollars  from  the  funds  of  the  College, 
and  enough  more  from  the  $25,000  lately  given  by  the  State,  to 
amount  to  $12,4G5,  be  appropriated  to  the  immediate  payment  of 
the  College  debt ;  which  those  sums  would  entirely  cancel. 

Voted,  That  of  the  remainder  of  the  $25,000  bestowed  by  the  State, 
an  adequate  sum  be  devoted  to  the  endowment  of  the  Professorship 
of  Chemistry  and  Natural  History ;  which  will  hereafter  take  the 
name  of  the  Massachusetts  Professorship  of  Chemistry  and  Natural 
History. 

Voted,  That  in  consequence  of  the  State  benefaction,  and  the 
donations  of  individuals,  the  annual  charge  to  the  students  upon 
Term  Bills,  be  reduced  from  forty-eight  to  forty-two  dollars. 

Voted,  To  direct  the  Prudential  Committee  hereafter,  to  remit  the 
full  amount  of  the  regular  term  bills,  to  those  students  who  desire 
it,  and  are  indigent,  and  are  preparing  for  the  Christian  ministry. 

Voted,  To  name  the  new  Observatory  now  being  erected,  the 
Lawrence  Observatory,  in  honor  of  Hon.  ABBOT  LAWRENCE,  the 
largest  donor  for  its  erection. 

Voted,  To  name  the  new  Cabinet,  the  Woods  Cabinet,  to  com 
memorate  the  generous  efforts  of  Hon.  JOSIAH  B.  WOODS,  of  En- 
field,  to  obtain  funds  for  its  erection. 


CURIOUS   SCENE.  135 

Voted,  In  consequence  of  a  temporary  endowment,  to  create  a 
Professorship  of  the  Latin  and  French  languages,  under  the  name 
of  the  Moore  Professorship,  in  grateful  remembrance  of  Rev.  Dr. 
MOORE,  the  first  President  of  the  College,  and  a  liberal  benefactor. 

Voted,  To  appoint  Rev.  A.  D.  Gridley,  Moore  Professor  of  the 
Latin  and  French  Languages,  with  the  usual  salary  of  $800,  and 
liberty  to  be  absent  a  year,  should  he  accept,  and  find  it  necessary. 

The  Hon.  SAMUEL,  WILLISTON,  of  Easthampton,  having  offered 
ten  thousand  dollars,  and  SAMUEL  AUSTIN  HITCHCOCK,  Esq.,  of 
Brimfield,  an  equal  sum,  to  endow  the  Professorship  of  Natural 
Theology  and  Geology,  Voted,  That  it  hereafter  be  called  the 
Hitchcock  Professorship. 

The  Hon.  SAMUEL  WILLISTON,  having  offered  a  further  sum  of 
twenty  thousand  dollars,  for  the  support  of  the  Professorship  of 
Greek  and  Hebrew —  Voted,  That  hereafter  it  take  the  name  of  the 
Graves  Professorship. 

The  above  sums,  given  to  the  College  by  Mr.  Williston,  with  a 
professorship  previously  endowed  by  him,  amount  to  FIFTY  THOU 
SAND  DOLLARS  ! 

The  meeting  closed  in  the  afternoon,  and  as  the  students 
were  yet  ignorant  of  the  whole  matter,  in  which  I  knew  they 
felt  a  deep  interest,  I  took  the  opportunity  at  evening  prayers 
to  read  the  above  votes,  and  I  shall  never  forget  the  scene 
that  followed.  At  first  they  did  not  seem  to  comprehend  the 
matter,  and  they  gave  no  demonstration  of  their  feelings, 
especially  as  two  of  the  Trustees  were  present.  But  as  the 
successive  announcements  came  out  they  could  not  restrain 
their  feelings  and  began  to  clap,  and  by  the  time  the  last  vote 
was  read  the  clapping  was  tremendous,  and  when  they  were 
dismissed  and  had  reached  the  outer  door  of  the  chapel,  they 
stopped,  and  the  cheering  was  long  and  loud. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Trustees,  in  August,  they 
appointed  "  a  committee  to  consider  in  what  manner  we 
should  testify  our  gratitude  to  God  and  our  benefactors,  in 
view  of  recent  favors  to  the  College,"  who  reported  that  "at 
such  time  as  the  President  and  Professors  shall  regard  as 
suitable,  a  public  meeting  be  held  in  Amherst,  with  an  invita 
tion  to  the  friends  and  benefactors  of  the  College  to  be  present, 


136  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHEBST   COLLEGE. 

and  that  Hon.  William  B.  Calhoun  be  requested  to  deliver  an 
address  on  the  occasion." 

This  meeting  was  deferred  till  June  28th,  1848,  in  order  to 
connect  with  it  the  dedication  of  the  new  cabinet  and  observa 
tory,  which  would  not  be  finished  and  filled  with  specimens 
at  an  earlier  date.  The  occasion  was  one  of  deep  interest. 
The  principal  address  was  given  by  Hon.  William  B. 
Calhoun,  and  was  a  beautiful  and  appropriate  production.  In 
my  address  of  welcome,  I  said :  "  Gratitude — deep,  sincere 
gratitude  becomes  us,  and  we  know  that  we  feel  it ;  gratitude 
first  of  all  and  above  all  to  God.  For  we  honestly  believe 
that  it  was  He  who  put  it  into  your  hearts  to  come  to  our 
help.  If  ever  I  had  doubted  God's  special  agency  in  influ 
encing  the  hearts  of  men  to  deeds  of  benevolence,  the  experi 
ence  .of  the  last  two  years  would  have  removed  all  my  scepticism. 
Permit  us,  then,  from  a  full  heart,  to  praise  God  for  our 
increased  means  of  honoring  Him  by  promoting  the  cause 
of  benevolence. 

"  Think  not,  gentlemen,  that  you  are  invited  hither  to-day 
through  mere  form,  for  the  sake  only  of  a  pageant.  If  any  of 
you  know  what  it  is  to  labor  year  after  year  in  a  cause  which 
you  feel  to  be  a  good  and  important  one,  but  which  is  in  a 
depressed  condition,  and  therefore  meets  not  with  popular 
favor,  if  you  know  the  heart-sinking,  the  mortification,  the 
struggle  between  duty  and  inclination,  and  the  alternation  of 
hope  and  despondency  of  such  a  state,  then  you  can  realize 
our  feelings  for  many  a  long  year.  And  if  you  have  seen 
that  depressed  cause  suddenly  assume  a  different  aspect,  and 
have  felt  your  lungs  breathe  more  freely,  and  your  heart  beat 
more  lightly,  through  the  liberal  aid  of  some  large-souled 
benefactor,  then  you  can  appreciate  our  feelings  to-day." 

A  few  sentences  from  Mr.  Calhoun's  address  (p.  22,)  will 
show  how  these  same  topics  affected  him.  He  says :  "  The 
waning  fortunes  of  this  institution  have  for  years  brought  to 
our  hearts  gloom,  despondency,  almost  despair.  Heaven 
again  beams  upon  us  with  blessings.  To  Heaven  let  us  not 


PUBLIC  ACKNOWLEDGMENT.  137 

cease  to  offer  the  incense  of  thanksgiving."  "  We  render  our 
thankfulness  and  gratitude  to  all  our  benefactors.  We  leave 
behind  us  the  night  of  gloom  through  which  we  have  passed. 
We  receive  the  College  into  the  fellowship  of  new  and  ani 
mated  hopes.  The  massive  structures  upon  which  are  inscribed 
the  names  of  the  generous  donors,  rising  up  in  the  midst  of 
this  landscape, — these  hills  and  valleys — of  unsurpassing  gran 
deur  and  beauty — are  now  dedicated  to  the  cause  of  science 
and  truth.  Long,  ever  may  they  stand  thus  dedicated.  Here 
may  science  remain  tributary  to  virtue,  freedom,  religion. 
Here  may  there  be  inscribed  on  all  these  walls  and  in  every 
heart,  Christo  et  ecclesiae" 

At  the  dinner  on  this  occasion  several  distinguished  gentler 
men  (Professors  Silliman,  Senior  and  Junior,  Rev.  Dr. 
Worcester,  William  C.  Redfield,  President  Wheeler,  Professor 
Shepard,  and  many  others,)  made  appropriate  and  interesting 
remarks,  and  several  letters  of  the  like  stamp  were  read.  I 
feel  tempted  to  make  many  quotations ;  but  must  limit  myself 
to  a  single  one  from  the  letter  of  Hon.  David  Sears,  where  is 
shown  his  appreciation  of  the  financial  experiment  undertaken 
by  the  officers  of  the  College,  as  already  detailed.  "  But  while 
the  benefactors  of  the  College  are  thus  honored,"  says  he,  "  the 
Faculty  of  the  College  should  come  in  for  their  share  of  grati 
tude.  I  have  been  a  silent  but  not  inattentive  observer  of 
them.  I  have  been  informed  of  their  devotion  to  their  literary 
labors, — of  their  self-denials, — of  their  voluntary  surrender  of 
a  part  of  their  moderate  salaries, — reserving  only  enough  for 
a  bare  subsistence, — to  relieve  the  College  in  its  necessity. 
Such  disinterested  zeal  stands  out  brightly,  and  merits  an 
honorable  record." 

Thus  by  a  rapid  succession  of  Providential  interventions, 
almost  as  striking  as  if  they  had  been  miraculous,  was  the 
noble  ship  in  which  many  of  us  had  ventured  our  all,  turned 
away  from  a  lee  shore,  a  rocky  coast  and  hidden  shoals,  into  a 
smooth  and  open  sea,  refitted  for  her  voyage,  and  urged  for 
ward  by  prospering  gales.  Hitherto  she  had  been  compelled 


138  REMINISCENCES    OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

to  skulk  along  a  dangerous  coast,  and  many  a  friend  feared, 
and  many  a  foe  hoped,  to  see  her  go  to  pieces  upon  the  rocks 
or  founder  in  the  storm,  especially  when  they  saw  more  than 
half  of  her  crew  abandon  her  as  unseavvorthy,  and  those  who 
remained  seemed  to  have  no  power  to  stop  her  leaks  or  mend 
her  sails.  How  gratifying  to  see  her  now  bearing  away  under 
easy  sail  over  an  open  sea,  with  every  prospect  of  a  prosperous 
voyage  if  her  crew  exercise  only  common  discretion  and  skill- 
To  drop  the  figure,  the  College  had  now  come  into  possession 
of  funds  sufficient  to  cancel  all  its  debts,  improve  its  external 
appearance,  and  furnish  the  means  of  defraying  its  ordinar) 
expenses  even  in  those  exigencies  when  from  any  cause  its 
numbers  are  diminished.  Up  to  1846  every  such  exigenc} 
produced  an  apprehension  for  the  very  life  of  the  institution ; 
for  it  had  not  strength  enough  nor  a  basis  broad  enough  to 
bear  a  heavy  blow.  But  now  the  great  increase  of  its  public 
buildings,  its  apparatus,  books  and  specimens,  gave  it  ballast 
enough  to  keep  it  steady  in  a  severe  storm.  Its  permanence  as 
one  of  the  leading  literary  and  scientific  institutions  of  the 
land  became  now  an  admitted  fact,  unless  through  gross  mis 
management  it  should  again  get  loaded  with  debt  and  become 
extravagant  in  expenses.  These  are  temptations  against 
which,  taught  by  sad  experience,  it  should  now  set  up  a  double 
guard. 

Having  had  this  long  and  bitter  experience,  I  feel  constrained 
to  record  my  opinion  as  to  certain  measures  adopted  here  and 
in  many  other  places  in  analagous  circumstances,  that  is,  in 
starting  literary  and  benevolent  institutions,  although  that 
opinion  conflicts  with  the  views  of  many  excellent  men.  It  is 
not  my  object  to  cast  censure  upon  such  men ;  but  only  to 
express  the  convictions  which  have  been  forced  upon  me  by 
that  stern  schoolmaster,  experience. 

1.  In  the  first  place  I  doubt  the  justice  or  expediency  of  run 
ning  in  debt  to  found  and  carry  forward  literary  and  benevolent 
institutions. 


BUILDING  ON   CREDIT.  139 

It  is  not  just  to  successors.  It  is  contracting  debts  for  them 
to  pay,  although  never  consulted,  and  who  is  willing  to  commit 
that  power  to  any  man?  The  institution  comes  into  their 
hands  thus  encumbered,  and  the  alternative  is  to  let  it  go 
down  or  to  make  a  desperate  effort  to  pay  the  debt.  The 
latter  course  is  usually  taken ;  but  how  desperate  the  struggle 
often  is,  let  the  history  of  Amherst  College  attest.  Surely  it 
must  be  an  urgent  necessity  that  can  justify  one  set  of 
Christian  men  in  forcing  another  set  into  such  a  conflict.  I 
will  not  say  that  it  is  possible  in  every  case  to  avoid  going 
forward  on  credit ;  and  if  ever  justifiable  it  was  probably  so 
in  the  effort  to  build  the  first  college  building  at  Amherst. 
But  there,  as  it  seems  to  me,  it  should  have  stopped,  at  least 
till  the  first  one  was  paid  for  and  money  was  on  hand  for 
building  another. 

Again,  building  on  credit  is  much  the  most  expensive.  You 
have  got  to  pay  interest  on  the  sums  borrowed,  and  the  salaries 
of  agents,  for  their  liquidation.  In  some  cases  those  agents  get 
little  more  than  sufficient  for  these  two  objects,  like  the  sap 
gatherer  who,  to  save  transportation,  fitted  up  a  series  of 
spouts  to  convey  the  sap  to  the  kettle ;  but  it  turned  out  that 
it  was  all  absorbed  before  reaching  the  kettle.  Is  it  wonderful 
that  benevolent  men  who  know  how  much  it  takes  to  wet  the 
spouts,  should  manifest  some  reluctance  when  solicited  to  pay 
old  debts  even  to  sustain  very  important  institutions  ? 

This  question  suggests  another  objection  to  this  building  on 
credit.  It  is  much  easier  to  get  money  to  found  a  new  insti 
tution  than  to  cancel  old  debts.  Hence  those  who  incur 
debts  inflict  a  double  injury  upon  their  successors,  expecting 
them  to  make  brick  without  straw.  Nothing  is  more  odious 
than  to  appeal  to  a  man  to  help  pay  the  debts  of  an  insti 
tution  contracted  many  years  before ;  and  nothing  is  more 
adapted  to  make  any  enterprise  unpopular  with  the  benevo 
lent.  Alas,  we  found  this  all  painfully  true  in  respect  to 
Amherst  College.  With  the  religious  public,  saving  local 
prejudices,  it  was  wonderfully  popular  in  its  earlier  days. 


140  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

But  when  our  ubiquitous  system  of  begging  had  been  continued 
for  years,  we  were  growled  at  and  found  fault  with  in  all 
quarters,  and  almost  every  one  felt  fully  competent  to  decide 
what  we  ought  and  ought  not  to  do.  We  were  fast 
losing  the  confidence  of  the  public.  Even  the  Alumni 
sat  in  judgment  upon  us,  and  because  we  could  not  pay  our 
debts  nor  make  improvements  in  the  College,  without  money, 
we  were  judged  incompetent.  Had  we  been  out  of  debt, 
we  might  have  maintained  our  independence  and  the  public 
confidence.  But  it  seemed  next  to  impossible  to  recover  our 
lost  balance,  because' the  public  ear  had  become  deaf  and  the 
public  heart  insensible  to  our  solicitations. 

The  temptation  which  this  living  on  credit  presents  to  Trus 
tees  to  adopt  measures  that  will  give  early  but  ephemeral 
popularity  to  a  college,  which  will  most  likely  be  followed 
by  such  a  trying  reaction  as  just  described,  is  another 
strong  argument  against  it.  When  some  improvement  seems 
very  desirable, — some  new  building,  or  books,  or  apparatus, — 
how  readily  will  they  vote  to  obtain  it,  if  they  can  do  it  by 
simply  directing  their  treasurer  to  borrow  the  money  and 
make  themselves  believe  that  Providence  will  raise  up  some 
one  who  will  cancel  the  debt.  If  such  improvement  would 
give  the  college  a  wider  reputation  and  make  it  more  attrac 
tive,  and  especially  enable  it  to  compete  successfully  with 
some  rival  institution  that  had  already  secured  the  boon,  how 
easily  could  they  make  themselves  believe  that  there  was  a 
call  of  Providence  for  them  to  go  forward.  How  strong  the 
temptation,  also,  to  lead  them  to  do  some  things  which  though 
desirable  with  ample  funds,  might  without  much  inconve 
nience  be  dispensed  with !  I  mean  how  much  more  ready 
would  Trustees  be  to  do  these  things  than  if  they  acted  on 
the  principle  of  never  voting  any  improvement  till  the  money 
for  it  was  in  their  hands. 

If  I  were  to  instance  improvements  at  Amherst,  not  indis 
pensable,  which  certainly  would  have  been  delayed  if  the 
Trustees  had  waited  for  funds,  I  should  point  first  to  the 


DEBTOR'S  PRISON.  141 

wide  cut  through  the  hill  in  front  of  the  College,  between 
them  and  the  Woods  Cabinet.  If  a  landscape  gardener  had 
been  consulted,  he  probably  would  not  have  advised  the 
grading ;  yet  it  cost  $2,000,  to  be  added  to  the  College  debt. 
The  other  act  was  the  erection  of  a  new  President's  house 
on  a  spot  less  desirable,  in  my  opinion,  than  the  site  of  the 
house  already  in  possession  of  the  College ;  yet  it  cost  $9,000, 
and  added  over  $6,000  to  the  debt.  Ought  it  not  to  have 
been  a  matter  of  stern  necessity  that  should  thus  add  $8,000 
to  a, debt  which  already  had  well  nigh  throttled  the  institu 
tion  ?  In  another  place  I  have  given  my  views  of  the  new 
President's  house  compared  with  the  old  one.  If  I  were 
again  to  take  the  Presidency,  I  should  prefer,  all  things 
considered,  to  live  in  the  old  one.  Yet  the  Trustees  acted  in 
both  these  cases,  I  doubt  not,  with  conscientious  sincerity. 

For  these  reasons,  chiefly,  I  am  persuaded  that  the  true 
principle  in  starting  and  sustaining  colleges  and  other  insti 
tutions  dependent  on  public  benefactions,  is  not  to  go  forward 
to  build  and  make  other  improvements  unless  the  requisite 
funds  are  actually  obtained,  except  perhaps  in  very  extreme 
cases.  As  an  individual,  I  should  not  feel  justified  in 
running  into  debt  to  build  a  house,  in  the  expectation  that 
my  children  would  somehow  or  other  pay  for  it ;  why,  as  a 
Trustee  of  a  public  institution,  should  I  do  an  analogous 
thing?  It  might,  indeed,  retard  its  progress,  to  wait  till 
funds  could  be  obtained;  but  though  the  growth  might  be 
slower,  it  would  be  much  surer,  and  there  would  be  no  disas 
trous  reaction,  so  that  in  the  end  there  would  be  no  loss  of  time. 
If  this  principle  had  been  adopted  at  Amherst  College,  I  think 
it  would  have  reached  its  present  elevated  position  several  years 
earlier  than  it  has  done,  and  all  the  anxiety  and  vexation  and 
desperate  effort  which  it  has  cost  to  raise  it  out  of  the  debtor's 
prison,  would  have  been  saved. 

It  may  be  said  that  by  this  principle  many  an  important 
enterprise  would  utterly  fail,  because  funds  could  not  be 
obtained  beforehand.  In  such  a  case,  if  after  the  most  perse- 


142  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

vering  and  prayerful  efforts,  they  could  not  be  secured,  I 
think  we  might  reasonably  conclude  that  Providence  did  not 
intend  it  should  succeed. 

The  extraordinary  success  that  has  attended  some  of  the 
orphan  asylums  of  Europe,  where  this  principle  was  adopted, 
is  a  striking  evidence  of  its  truth.  Francke  acted  on  this 
principle  at  Halle,  and  his  asylum,  now  more  than  one  hun 
dred  years  old  and  still  flourishing,  shows  its  potency.  Yet 
more  strikingly  have  the  labors  of  Muller  at  Bristol  shown  us 
how  God  helps  those  who  help  themselves.  I  do  not  say 
that  I  should  adopt  all  the  views  of  Muller.  But  when  he 
contends  that  we  have  no  right  to  run  in  debt  one  pound 
beyond  our  means,  I  feel  that  he  has  both  Scripture  and 
reason  on  his  side.  There  have  been  no  reactions  and  pull- 
backs  in  his  gigantic  establishment,  just  because  he  waited  till 
he  could -pay  for  every  thing  as  he  went  along.  I  mean  as  to 
the  erection  of  buildings. 

The  Female  Seminary  at  South  Hadley  is  another  example 
nearer  home  of  the  correctness  of  this  principle.  For  not  till 
the  requisite  funds  were  in  the  hands  of  the  Trustees  were  the 
brick  and  mortar  put  into  requisition,  nor  have  any  debts  been 
incurred  there  for  any  purpose  that  could  not  be  paid  when 
demanded.  And  now  for  twenty -five  years  has  that  institution 
enjoyed  uninterrupted  prosperity.  It  was  hard  work  to  get 
the  funds  at  first ;  but  by  adopting  John  Elliott's  principle 
that  "prayers  and  pains  through  Jesus  Christ  will  do  any 
thing,"  success  crowned  the  effort. 

In  the  erection  of  the  Library  Building  the  Trustees  of 
Amherst  College  acted  on  the  principle  for  which  I  contend. 
They  would  not  proceed  in  the  work  till  the  requisite  funds 
were  in  their  hands,  and  as  the  result  the  enterprise  was  carried 
through  without  the  slightest  difficulty.  The  bills  were  all 
promptly  met,  and  no  imperative  demands  for  interest  upon 
an  impoverished  treasury  made  a  vexatious  finale  as  was  the 
case  with  most  of  the  other  buildings. 


DORMITORIES.  143 

May  I  be  allowed  to  say  that  I  have  myself  found  the  value 
of  this  principle  in  my  efforts  to  enlarge  the  cabinets  at 
Amherst  College.  I  have  obtained  not  less  than  $30,000  for 
buildings  and  specimens.  But  I  have  rigidly  adhered  to  the 
principle  never  to  advance  money  for  any  purpose  until  it  was 
in  my  hands,  though  in  some  cases  strongly  tempted  to  do  so 
by  some  favorable  offer  which  might  soon  be  withdrawn.  The 
result  is  that  I  have  never  had  the  slightest  difficulty  in  any 
pecuniary  matter  connected  with  the  erection  of  the  Appleton 
and  Woods  Cabinet,  the  Geological  Lecture  Room,  the  Nine 
veh  Gallery,  or  in  purchases  for  the  cabinets.  I  acted  just  as 
I  would  in  my  own  private  dealings ;  that  is,  never,  if  possible 
to  avoid  it,  to  run  in  debt.  Professor  Adams  was  tempted  to 
anticipate  the  income  of  the  Natural  History  Fund  by  some 
$350,  because  some  good  opportunities  offered  for  purchase. 
But  he  died,  and  this  money  could  legally  be  refused  payment 
to  the  estate.  The  Trustees,  however,  out  of  regard  to  the 
afflicted  family,  paid  it  over.  How  much  better,  thought  I,  to 
keep  one's  ledger  free  from  such  balances. 

2.  In  the  second  place,  I  doubt  the  expediency  of  the  very 
common  practice  of  laying  out  large  sums  for  dormitory  build 
ings  in  founding  a  new  college.  For  almost  any  of  our  country 
villages,  even  one  as  small  as  Amherst,  could  easily  furnish 
comfortable  rooms  enough  for  students  to  study  and  sleep  in. 
Certainly  there  are  enterprising  men  enough  in  every  village 
who  would  soon  provide  such  rooms  if  there  were  a  reasonable 
prospect  of  renting  them.  A  building  for  recitations  and 
prayers  is  indeed  needed  early,  and  then  will  follow  after  a 
time  other  rooms  for  library,  cabinets,  laboratory,  and  other 
public  rooms.  But  not  till  all  these  are  provided  need  dormi 
tory  rooms  be  built  if  built  at  all. 

Now  most  Boards  of  Trust  lay  themselves  out  vigorously  at 
the  very  first  to  provide  private  rooms  for  the  students,  and 
generally  by  the  time  these  are  finished  all  their  available 
means  are  exhausted,  and  even  large  debts  incurred,  and  then 
public  rooms  can  be  built  only  by  plunging  deeper  in  indebt- 


144  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

edness.  So  that  sometimes  by  the  time  a  college  is  ready 
fairly  to  start  they  are  so  exhausted  of  means  as  to  be  com 
pelled  to  suspend  operations  entirely ;  or,  as  at  Amherst,  a 
struggle  commences  which  requires  great  strategic  skill, 
unusual  financial  ability,  much  self-denial,  and  unflinching 
courage  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  before  the  victory  is  gained. 
What  a  relief  to  that  institution  it  would  have  been  had  its 
founders  been  convinced  that  the  $45,000  which  have  been 
laid  out  in  dormitory  buildings  might  have  been  saved  or 
diverted  to  other  purposes  ! 

I  know  that  the  impression  prevails  widely  that  it  is  far 
safer  to  the  morals  of  students  to  have  them  congregated  in 
large  dormitory  buildings  than  to  be  scattered  through  the 
community.  I  must  say  that  my  own  observation  for  many 
years  does  not  sustain  such  an  opinion,  but  rather  the  reverse. 
Some  peculiar  temptations  may  meet  them  thus  scattered ;  but 
not  so  many,  I  think,  as  to  be  isolated  from  public  inspection 
entirely  among  their  own  kith  and  kin,  with  whom  it  is  a 
point  of  honor  not  to  reveal  the  delinquencies  and  immoralities 
of  their  fellows. 

I  shall  spend  but  little  time  in  detailing  the  financial  history 
of  the  College  since  its  passage  through  the  Red  Sea  of  diffi 
culties  in  the  pathway  made  through  the  waters  parted  by  the 
wand  of  Providence.  Though  we  found  ourselves  with  funds 
enough  to  pay  our  debts  and  meet  ordinary  expenses,  yet  the 
wants  of  the  institution  had  become  numerous,  and  to  make  it 
such  as  it  ought  to  be  we  still  needed  the  fostering  care  of 
individual  beneficence  as  well  as  the  exercise  of  rigid  economy. 
Still  we  have  found  it  easier  to  persuade  wealthy  and  benevo 
lent  gentlemen  to  aid  us  than  during  our  most  needy  condition, 
because  they  were  then  fearful  that  we  might  sink  in  the 
struggle,  and  then  all  their  donations  would  be  lost ;  but  now 
they  see  that  permanence  is  inscribed  upon  our  walls  and  that 
their  benefactions  are  sure  to  bless  a  long  succession  of  gener 
ations.  I  doubt  not  that  such  impressions  had  some  influence 
in  procuring  the  $10,000  for  the  Appleton  Cabinet;  perhaps 


FUNDS   OP   THE   COLLEGE. 


145 


also  the  $1,165  for  the  Nineveh  Gallery;  the  $1,000  for  the 
Geological  Lecture  Room,  and  the  thousands  of  dollars  for  the 
purchase  of  footmarks  and  other  specimens.  Also,  at  more 
recent  dates,  the  benefactions  of  S.  A.  Hitchcock,  Dr.  "Walker, 
David  Sears,  Jonathan  Phillips,  and  others,  for  scholarships 
and  books.  But  perhaps  the  best  way  to  give  an  idea  of  the 
present  state  of  the  finances  will  be  to  copy  several  items  from 
the  Treasurer's  Report. 

FUNDS  OF  THE  COLLEGE. 

Williston  Professorship  of  Rhetoric  and  Oratory, — 
Principal,  .         .        .        .'.'.'.        .        .      $14,10050 
Income,      ...        .        .        .        .        .'        .  827  50 

Graves  Professorship  of  Greek  and  Hebrew, — 

Principal, .         .         .        20,00000 

Income,      .  1,200  00 

Hitchcock  Professorship  of  Natural  Theology  and  Geology, — 

Principal,  .         .         .         ....         .         .         .      $22,000  00 

Income, 1,773  39 

Massachusetts  Professorship  of  Chemistry  and  Natural  History, — 

Principal, $15,000  00 

Income, .  1,12G  00 

Charity  Fund,  (1863,)  Principal, 61,287  00 

Annual  Income,  July,  1863, 3,205  00 

Stimpson  Fund, 16,000  00 

Income, 960  58 

Moore  Scholarships  for  Indigent  Students  looking  to 

the  Ministry, 7,850  00 

Income,  (one-third  to  be  added  to  Principal,)  .         .  476  47 

Adams  Benevolent  Fund,  ($125  of  income  to  be  paid 
the  Congregational  Society  in  Milford,  $120  to  indi 
gent,  meritorious  students  in  College,  never  over  $50 
apiece,  and  the  balance  to  the  College  Library,) — 

Principal, ,  6,000  00 

Income, 285  00 

Porter  Scholarship,   (student  to  be  selected  by  him 
self  for  thirty  years,)  Principal,         .         .                  ...         1,00000 
Income, 60  00 

Hitchcock  Scholarships,  (given  by  S.  A.  Hitchcock  for 

indigent,  meritorious  students,  $100  each,)  Principal,         10,000  00 

Income, 600  00 

7 


146 


REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 


Sears  Foundation  of  Literature  and  Benevolence,  (one- 
half  the  income  to  be  added  to  the  principal,  $1-!0 
to  the  Library,  and  the  rest  to  College  purposes,) — 

Principal, $14,700  00 

Income,      .         .         .         .         .         .'.,.        .  708  80 

Thirty  shares  in  Randolph  Bank,          ....          3,000  00 
Income,      .        .        .        . 300  00 

Ten  shares  in  Connecticut  River  Railroad,  original 
value,  .  .  .  .'  .  .  .  _  1,000  00 

Income,      . -.        .  30  00 

President's  House  and  Lands  adjoining,        ...  9,000  00 

Dwelling  House  in  Amherst,  cost,       '  .         .         .         .  3,250  00 

Income,      .        .    * 200  00 

Legacy  of  Hon.  Jonathan  Phillips,  for  the  Library,     .          5,000  00 
Income, '       .         .  300  00 

Samuel  Appleton's  Donation  for  Instruction  in  Agri 
culture,  850  00 

Grant  from  the  Massachusetts  Legislature,  upon  the  sale 
of  the  Back  Bay  Lands,  a  part  already  paid,  and  the 
whole  to  be  paid  in  August,  1863,  .  .  .'  .'  25,00000 

Legacy  from  Richard  Bond,  Esq.,  the  income  to  be  used 

for  the  general  purposes  of  College,         .        .        .          4,000  00 

Legacy  of  Hon.  William  Reed,  available   upon  the 

decease  of  two  nieces, '         5,000  00 

Donation   from  C.  Baldwin,   not  available  for  some 

years,         .'       .'      .'    ..        .'      .        .        .        ;          4,00000 

Donation  from  M.  H.  Baldwin,    .        .        .'      •-.'     :'.          3,50000 

Donation  of  Dr.  J.  W.  Walker,  to  endow  a  Professor 
ship  of  Mathematics  and  Astronomy,  .  .  25,000  00 

From  the  same,  for  half  the  cost  of  a  new  Philosoph 
ical  Cabinet,  .  .  .  .  .  ,  .  ..  20,000  00 

From  the  same,  for  Mathematical  Prizes,    .        .        .          2,000  00 

Donation  for  Mathematical  purposes.  ....         10,000  00 

$5,000  each  from  Samuel  Williston,  Samuel  A.  Hitch 
cock,  Esq.,  and  James  Smith,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia, 
with  smaller  sums  from  other  individuals,  to  make 
up  the  other  half,  for  the  Philosophical  Cabinet,  .  20,000  00 

Grant  from  the  Legislature  of  }863,  for  aid  to  the  Nat 
ural  History  Department, .  f  ,  ...  2,50000 

The  last  of  the  above  items  came  to  us  as  a  special  gift  of 
Providence,     The  Trustees  threw  in  a  petition  to  the  legjsla- 


VARIOUS   FUNDS.  147 

ture  pointing  out  Amherst  as  a  proper  place  for  the  Agricul 
tural  College  endowed  by  Congress.  This  failed;  but  was 
followed  up  by  another  petition  for  aid  in  the  Natural  History 
Department  on  the  ground  that  the  like  aid  had  been  bestowed 
upon  the  Zoological  Museum  at  Cambridge,  and  some  other 
institutions.  This  petition  we  follo'wed  up  perseveringly.  I 
went  down  to  Boston  three  times  in  the  course  of  the  winter, 
in  so  feeble  a  state  that  I  was  obliged  to  be  accompanied  by  my 
wife.  Success  crowned  our  efforts  ;  not  indeed  to  the  extent 
of  our  deserts,  but  enough  to  afford  us  important  help.  I  trust 
that  the  greater  part  of  it  will  be .  devoted  to  Palaeontology. 
Indeed,  the  Prudential  Committee  have  directed  the  Curator 
to  visit  important  localities,  and  the  result  already  has  been  a 
valuable  collection  of  the  annelid  and  other  tracks  of  Central 
New  York,  as  well  as  other  important  fossils. 

Three  of  the  above  Funds,  by  the  terms  on  which  they  were 
presented,  must  go  on  increasing  in  amount,  viz. :  the  Charity 
Fund,  the  Sears  Foundation,  and  the  Moore  Scholarships. 
So  far  as  I  can  see  this  increase  can  never  be  stopped  without 
forfeiting  the  principals,  and  heirs  enough  in  such  a  case  will 
always  be  found  to  take  possession.  We  might  speculate  upon 
the  effect  of  this  endless  expansion,  and  perhaps  show  that  it 
must  operate  disastrously.  But  as  posterity  only  are  con 
cerned,  we  leave  it  to  them  to  settle  difficult  questions,  confi 
dent  that  they  will  complain  less  of  an  excess  of  funds  than  if 
their  progenitors  had  sent  down  heavy  debts  for  them  to  pay. 

Of  the  Funds  given  to  assist  indigent  students  three  of  the 
above  are  devoted  to  such,  and  to  such  only,  as  have  made  up 
their  minds  to  enter  the  gospel  ministry.  These  are  the 
Charity  Fund  of  $61,287,  the  Stimpson  Fund  of  $16,000,  and 
the  Moore  Scholarships  of  $7,850 ;  amounting  in  all  to 
$85,137.  Moreover,  one-sixth  of  the  income  of  the  Charity 
Fund  is  added  to  the  principal,  and  one-third  that  of  the 
Moore  Scholarships,  so  that  some  time  or  other  they  must 
furnish  money  enough  to  educate  all  the  evangelical  young 
men  in  the  country  studying  for  the  ministry.  Fortunately 


148  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

the  Charity  Fund  docs  not  limit  its  benefactions  to  one  denom 
ination,  but  embraces  all  that  are  evangelical,  viz. :  Congrega- 
tionalists,  Presbyterians,  Baptists,  Methodists,  Episcopalians, 
&c.  Moreover,  the  benefactions  need  not  be  confined  to 
paying  the  tuition  merely ;  but  might  be  extended  to  board; 
clothing,  or  any  other  needful  expenses,  nay,  to  the  erection 
of  buildings,  purchase  of  books,  or  cabinets,  or  any  thing  else 
necessary  to  give  scholars  a  complete  education.  This  Charity 
Fund  was  the  corner-stone  on  which  the  College  was  originally 
founded;  it  has  been  our  sheet  anchor  during  winds  and 
storms,  and  it  seems  destined  in  the  future  to  give  the  rising 
tree  an  indefinite  expansion,  and  fruit  beyond  our  ability  to 
calculate. 

There  are  three  Funds  in  the  above  list  also  that  do  not 
require  the  recipients  of  the  income  to  have  decided  upon  their 
profession,  or  even  to  be  hopefully  pious  ;  but  only  that  they 
be  needy,  of  good  morals  and  of  good  talents  and  scholarship. 
These  are  the  Hitchcock  Scholarships  of  $10,000,  the  Adams 
Benevolent  Fund  of  $6,000,  and  the  Porter  Scholarship  of 
$1,000,  amounting 'in  all  to  $17,000.  Only  about  fourteen 
students  can  be  aided  at  the  same  time  by  these  funds,  and 
that  only  in  sums  from  $50  to  $100.  This  is  indeed  a  noble 
beginning.  But  from  what  I  have  learnt  by  long  acquaintance 
with  this  class  of  students,  I  cannot  but  think  that  future  donors 
to  the  College  would  most  advance  not  only  the  cause  of  learn 
ing  but  of  religion  by  enlarging  this  fund  rather  than  that 
which  assists  the  candidates  for  the  ministry.  Not  unfre- 
quently  the  finest  scholars  among  the  indigent,  although  appa 
rently  not  far  from  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  have  not  yet 
become  decidedly  religious,  or  are  not  ready  to  make  up  their 
minds  as  to  a  profession.  But  if  they  could  be  aided  to  go 
forward  we  might  strongly  hope  that  before  their  collegiate 
course  is  finished  both  these  points  would  be  satisfactorily 
settled ;  or  at  any  rate  such  a  character  and  habits,  both  moral 
and  intellectual,  as  such  benefactions  require,  would  train  up 
for  other  professions  a  most  desirable  set  of  men.  I  look  to 


EXPANDING   FUNDS.  149 

the  day  as  not  far  distant,  when  the  Funds  of  the  College  in 
aid  of  the  indigent  will  be  as  extensive  and  have  as  indefinite 
an  increase  for  those  who  have  not,  as  for  those  who  have,  made 
up  their  minds  as  to  a  profession. 

In  one  of  the  Funds  above  given  I  think  I  discern  the  germ 
of  an  indefinite  enlargement  of  our  Library.  I  refer  to  the 
Scars  Foundation  of  Literature  and  Benevolence.  Unless  I 
quite  mistake  the  somewhat  technical  terms  in  which  the  gift 
is  conveyed,  Mr.  Sears  has  an  eye  to  this  object.  He  speaks 
of  one  of  the  estates  presented  by  him  as  "  forever  to  be  a 
source  and  afford  a  supply,  as  a  river  affords  a  supply  of  water 
to  the  ocean,  by  which  the  capital  of  said  fund  is  to  be  annually 
increased."  He  gives  direction  how  the  fund  shall  be  used 
when  it  has  reached  a  hundred  thousand  dollars,  then  for  two 
hundred  thousand,  and  so  on  "through  all  time."  From 
another  estate  he  requires  that  $120  shall  be  devoted  to  books 
•for  sixty-six  years,  and  all  the  income  that  goes  to  the  College 
may  be  used  for  the  Library,  or  when  large  enough,  for  a 
Library  Building.  It  seems  to  me  that  if  a  large  part  of  the 
future  income  of  this  Literary  and  Benevolent  Fund  be  not 
devoted  to  an  indefinite  increase  of  books,  it  will  not  be  used 
as  the  donor  intended. 

The  Natural  History  Fund  of  $5,000,  producing  $300 
annually,  will  also  do  something  to  increase  the  cabinets, 
although  insufficient  to  make  very  rapid  or  large  additions. 
Here,  too,  we  perceive  the  principle  of  indefinite  increase,  so 
that  we  may  regard  it  as  the  law  which  Providence  has 
impressed  upon  all  the  great  interests  of  the  College.  It 
seems  to  me  to  be  Providential  that  all  these  interests  are 
thus  provided  for.  I  cannot  impute  it  to  chance  that  so  many 
different  benefactors,  without  knowing  one  another's  plans, 
should  thus  have  provided  for  an  indefinite  increase  of  men, 
of  means,  of  books,  and  of  specimens.  It  impresses  us  with 
high  hopes  as  to  the  future  destiny  of  the  College  if  those  who 
conduct  its  affairs  are  wise  and  faithful. 


150  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE.  - 

For  a  few  years  past  the  Treasurer  has  reported  a  consider 
able  debt,  which  has  been  accumulating ;  and  I  confess  1  have 
been  a  little  anxious  about  it,  lest  the  College  should  again 
get  into  the  slough,  out  of  which  it  took  twenty  years  to  extri 
cate  it.  But  the  very  gratifying  Report  of  the  Treasurer  for 
1863  has  relieved  my  apprehensions ;  for  it  shows  that  the 
Trustees  have  now  the  means  of  wiping  out  all  their  debts? 
and  affording  relief  at  any  points  where  there  was  a  pecuniary 
pressure.  And  I  am  sure  that  they  will  take  the  earliest 
opportunity  to  apply  the  sums  to  be  received  in  August  from 
the  Back  Bay  Lands  to  accomplish  these  most  desirable 
objects,  and  enable  the  College  to  follow  the  apostolic  direction 
to  owe  no  man  any  thing.  This  is  the  true  point  to  be .  aimed 
at  by  the  College ;  and  if  its  guardians  can  succeed  in  keeping 
it  on  this  high  ground  they  may  be  sure  of  prosperity.  But 
if  under  any  pretence  they  allow  debts  to  accumulate,  as  in 
former  years,  they  may  be  sure  of  embarrassment  and  trouble. 

August  1st,  1863.  Commencement  has  now  passed,  and  it 
is  gratifying  to  learn  that  the  Trustees  acted  fully  according 
to  these  principles  at  their  late  meeting.  With  the  $18,800 
just  received  from  the  State  from  the  Back  Bay  lands,  they 
voted  to  cancel  all  their  debts,  and  then  appropriated  several 
thousand  dollars  to  repairs  upon  the  President's  house  and 
the  reconstruction  of  the  much  worn  and  defaced  Johnson 
Chapel.  They  also  voted  to  proceed  at  once  to  the  erection 
of  the  Walker  Hall,  upon  which,  by  the  terms  of  Dr.  Walker's 
gift,  forty  thousand  dollars  are  to  be  expended. 

The  expenses  of  the  College  for  1862-3,  were  between 
$18,000  and  $19,000. 


ANTIVENENEAN   SOCIETY.  151 


SECTION     V. 

HISTORY  OF  TEMPERANCE  IN  THE  COLLEGE. 

The  College  was  started  before  the  beginning  of  the  modern 
temperance  movement  in  our  country.  But  the  character  of 
its  members  would  lead  us  to  expect  that  they  would  be  fore 
most  in  such  an  enterprise.  They  did  indeed  go  much  ahead 
of  the  community  as  teetotalers.  This  was  as  early  as  1829, 
and  though  the  cause  of  temperance  was  then  making  some 
headway,  it  was  only  total  abstinence  from  ardent  spirits. 
Indeed,  an  officer  in  the  American  Temperance  Society 
strongly  rebuked  me  in  the  journals  because  I  urged  the 
students  to  pledge  themselves  against  fermented  liquors  also. 
I  do  not,  however,  claim  the  credit  of  first  starting  them  on 
this  track.  That  was  done  by  John  Tappan,  Esq.,  of  Boston, 
one  of  the  earliest,  most  thorough  and  consistent  friends  of 
temperance  in  our  country.  He  saw  early  that  for  young 
men  in  college  to  be  pledged  against  ardent  spirits  only,  while 
free  to  use  wine  and  other  fermented  liquors,  is  rather  a  farce. 
Moreover,  Mr.  Tappan  had  a  strong  antipathy  to  the  use  of 
narcotics,  especially  tobacco  and  opium,  knowing  how  often  the 
habit  is  connected  with  or  leads  the  way  to  intemperance  in 
drink.  Hence  in  1829  or  1830  he  proposed  to  the  students 
of  the  College  that  if  they  would  form  an  association  pledged 
against  the  use,  as  articles  of  luxury  or  diet,  of  ardent  spirits, 
wine,  opium  and  tobacco,  he  would  present  them  with  $500,  to 
be  disposed  of  as  they  saw  fit.  They  concluded  to  form  the 
association,  but  rejected  the  money  lest  it  should  be  said  they 
were  bribed.  But  Mr.  Tappan  sent  on  the  money  to  the 
College  to  be  used  in  the  purchase  of  books.  We  used  it  as  a 


152  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMIJERST   COLLEGE. 

nucleus  around  which  to  accumulate  $3,000  or  $4,000,  which 
Professor  Hovey  took  to  Europe  and  employed  it  for  making 
the  most  important  early  addition  ever  made  to  the  library. 
Thus  did  this  effort  of  Mr.  Tappan  secure  two  very  important 
objects  for  the  College,  and  we  have  seen  how  another  s.'inn 
from  him  was  the  means  of  accomplishing  a  third  object  of 
great  scientific  value,  viz. :  the  filling  up  of  the  Ichnological 
Cabinet.  His  other  contributions  to  the  College  have  been 
numerous,  and  I  have  no  hesitation  in  placing  him  among  the 
most  valuable  of  our  benefactors. 

We  called  the  new  association  the  Antivenenean  Society,  or 
the  society  against  poisons,  (anti,  against,  and  venenum,  poison.) 
The  original  pledge  which  we  signed  was  as  follows  : — 

"  Whereas,  the  undersigned,  Officers  and  Students  in  Amherst 
College,  are  convinced  that  it  is  best  for  us  to  dispense  with  Ardent 
Spirit,  Wine,  Opium  and  Tobacco  as  articles  of  luxury  or  diet : — 
Therefore,  Resolved,  That,  relying  on  Divine  Aid,  we  hereby  pledge 
to  one  another  our  mutual  promise,  that  while  connected  with  this 
Institution  we  will  abstain  entirely  from  these  articles  except  as 
Medicines,  and  the  use  of  Wine  at  the  Lord's  Supper." 

This  document  is  dated  "Amherst  College,  August,  1830," 
and  seems  to  have  been  adopted  and  signed  just  before  Com 
mencement.  It  was  signed  by  all  the  officers  and  by  26  out 
of  33  Seniors,  36  Juniors  out  of  7o ;  23  Sophomores  out  of 
47,  and  33  Freshmen  out  of  53;  in  all  118  out  of  208.  In 
October  of  the  same  year  a  new  class  entered,  33  out  of  37  of 
whom  signed  the  pledge.  From  that  time  to  the  present  I 
have  offered  it  to  each  of  the  classes  as  they  have  entered,  and 
will  give  a  list  of  the  numbers  that  have  added  their  names  to 
the  roll,  which  has  now  got  to  be  twenty-three  feet  long,  and 
contains  on  a  part  four  columns  and  on  a  part  three  columns 
of  names.  To  unroll  this  before  a  class  generally  produces  a 
strong  impression,  as  it  ought  to  do,  and  such  an  array  of  the 
names  of  their  predecessors  in  College  calls  loudly  upon  them 
to  follow  the  example. 


EARLY   EFFORTS.  153 

Perhaps  I  ought  to  give  the  names  of  the  officers  of  the 
College,  which  stand  at  the  head  of  the  list,  embracing  every 
Professor  and  Tutor  for  1830,  1831  and  1832.  They  are  as 
follows : — 

Heman  Humphrey,  Edward  Hitchcock,  N.  W.  Fiske, 
Solomon  Peck,  Samuel  M.  Worcester,  E.  S.  Snell,  William 
P.  Paine,  Sylvester  Hovey,  Story  Hebard,  Ezekiel  Russell, 
Justin  Perkins,  William  S.  Tyler,  Ebenezer  Burgess,  Calvin 
E.  Park,  Amos  Bullard,  Jr.,  Jonathan  B.  Condit,  W.  H. 
Tyler,  S.  B.  Ingram,  Charles  E.  Washburn,  Thomas  S. 
Miller,  Lyman  Colman. 

I  ought  also  to  state,  before  giving  the  list,  that  the  pledge 
above  given  continued  unchanged  till  1849,  when  there  was  a 
modification,  as  the  following  preamble  and  votes  will  show : — 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  Antivenenean  Society,  holden  Nov.  15th,  1849, 
the  following  Preamble  and  Votes  were  unanimously  adopted  : 

"  Whereas,  among  the  articles  prohibited  by  the  Pledge  of  the  Anti 
venenean  Society,  intoxicating  drinks  are  decidedly  the  most  injuri 
ous  to  the  community ;  And  whereas,  some  individuals  are  willing 
to  pledge  themselves  to  abstain  from  intoxicating  drinks,  who  still 
use  some  of  the  other  substances  named  in  the  Pledge  :  And  whereas, 
it  is  desirable  that  those  who  agree  in  important  principles  should 
unite  in  their  defence,  even  though  they  may  differ  on  other  points  : 

"Therefore,  Voted,  That  the  following  Pledge  (inserted below)  be 
substituted  for  the  one  that  has  hitherto  been  adopted  by  the  Society. 

"  Voted,  That  if  any  one  in  signing  the  new  Pledge  shall  prefix  a 
star  to  his  name,  it  will  be  understood  that  he  adopts  both  Pledges  ; 
but  if  he  prefix  no  star,  the  new  Pledge  only  will  be  binding  upon 
him." 

"  NEW  PLEDGE. 

"We,  the  undersigned,  officers  and  students  of  Amherst  College, 
relying  on  Divine  Aid,  pledge  to  one  another  our  mutual  promise 
that  while  connected  with  the  Institution  we  will  not  use  Intoxicating 
Drinks  as  a  beverage." 

Quickened  in  memory  by  these  statements,  I  find  that  I 
have  not  gone  far  enough  back  to  trace  the  earliest  starting 
point  of  the  Antivenenean  Society  and  the  preparation  there 


154  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

was  among  the  students  for  Mr.  Tappan's  proposition.  The 
truth  was  that  early  in  1830,  or  I  think  still  earlier,  he  had 
offered  a  premium  of  $50  for  the  best  essay  on  alcoholic  and 
narcotic  substances.  That  prize  was  awarded  to  me,  and  my 
essay  published  under  the  direction  of  the  American  Temper 
ance  Society,  I  believe,  as  early  as  1829.  In  the  spring  of 
1830,  I  volunteered  to  give  nine  lectures  on  diet,  regimen  and 
employment,  to  the  students  of  the  College,  the  fourth  of 
which  was  the  prize  essay.  I  had  made  such  arrangements 
that  the  lectures  were  going  through  the  press  while  I  was 
delivering  them,  though  the  fact  was  unknown  to  the  public 
till  the  last  lecture,  when  I  held  up  the  completed  volume 
before  my  audience.  It  will  show  the  interest  excited  in  the 
subject,  to  state  that  though  the  work  would  immediately  be 
offered  for  sale,  the  students  felt  constrained  to  offer  me  a  vote 
of  thanks,  and  to  endorse  my  plan  for  the  publication  of  the 
lectures.  I  feel  much  gratification  as  I  now  read  the  vote  of 
the  committee  conveying  these  sentiments,  because  I  find 
names  that  have  since  become  eminent  through  the  world, 
viz. :  those  of  H.  B.  Hacket,  Peter  Parker,  Lyman  Gibbons 
and  H.  D.  Humphrey.  I  cannot  but  feel  that  the  early  stand 
they  took  on  the  subject  of  temperance,  in  eating  as  well  as 
drinking,  may  have  had  much  to  do  with  their  subsequent 
success  and  usefulness. 

My  lectures  closed  May  6th,  1830,  and  the  Antivenenean 
Society  was  not  formed  as  we  have  seen  till  August,  There 
was  therefore  not  a  little  preparation,  which  may  show  how  so 
large  a  proportion  of  the  members  of  College  came  at  once 
into  the  measure,  although  so  far  ahead  of  the  state  of  public; 
opinion.  But  the  following  list  of  the  number  who  have  joined 
the  society  from  1830  to  1862,  will  show  how  strong  a  temper 
ance  phalanx  has  existed  in  the  College : — 


STATISTICS   OP   THE   ANTIVENENEAN   SOCIETY.        155 


r. 

If 

1 

§     03 

O    (A 

•d 

YEAR. 

|l 

p 

£ 

YEAR. 

1  w 

11 

-2 

£ 

^S      ^H 

0 

N 

^H        S 

"Q 

*"' 

to 

<i   +* 

X 

1830,  August, 
1830,  October, 

*207 
37 

118 
33 

- 

1847-48, 
1848-49, 

50 
52 

37 

28 

- 

1831-32, 

60 

51 

- 

1849-50, 

53 

f36 

8 

1832-33, 

72 

67 

_ 

1850-51, 

40 

30 

8 

1833-34, 

85 

76 

_ 

1851-52, 

63 

47 

11 

1834-35, 

70 

62 

- 

1852-53, 

57 

52 

7 

1835-36, 

76 

68 

- 

1853-54, 

56 

50 

5 

1836-37, 

76 

55 

- 

1854-55, 

66 

54 

2 

1837-38, 

50 

36 

- 

1855-56, 

54 

41 

3 

1838-39, 

37 

14 

- 

1856-57, 

64 

57 

9 

1839-40, 

38 

34 

- 

1857-58, 

66 

37 

3 

1840-41, 

52 

32 

_ 

1858-59, 

74 

52 

13 

1841-42, 

44 

40 

_ 

1859-60, 

67 

41 

6 

1842-43, 

32 

26 

_ 

1860-61, 

52 

30 

1 

1843-44, 

32 

22 

_ 

1861-62, 

78 

51 

15 

1844-45, 

34 

31 

_ 

1862-63, 

60 

37 

12 

1  &*1*"S   J.P 

34 

91 

1846-47,' 

35 

n 
16 

- 

2,033 

1,485 

103  J 

All  Classes. 


f  New  Pledge. 


t  One  in  14. 


From  these  figures  we  see  that  in  the  last  thirty-seven  classes, 
embracing  2,033,  1,485,  or  just  about  three-quarters,  have 
connected  themselves  with  this  society ;  and  of  the  615  who 
have  joined  it  since  the  adoption  of  the  new  pledge,  one 
hundred  and  three,  one  in  six,  have  not  pledged  themselves 
against  opium  and  tobacco.  To  one  who,  like  myself,  knows 
how  little  effort  has  been  made  to  obtain  these  results,  they 
are  gratifying.  The  rule  which  we  adopted  at  the  first,  was, 
that  the  President  of  the  College  should  be  also  the  President 
of  the  Society,  and  the  Secretary  hold  his  office  during  good 
behavior.  Dr.  Humphrey  accordingly  presided  during  the 
first  fifteen  years,  and  I  was  Secretary.  Since  that  time  I 
have  been  President,  and  Professor  Tyler  Secretary,  Dr. 
Stearns  having  requested  me  to  continue  President  after  his 
election.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  I  believe  I  have  offered  the 
pledge  to  every  class,  though  Professor  Tyler  has  been  gen 
erally  present.  We  have  done  nothing  except  to  spend  say 
half  an  hour  in  making  the  class  understand  the  character 


156  REMINISCENCES   OF    AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

of  the  Society,  and  stating  to  them  that  we  wanted  only  true 
men  to  subscribe.  Very  rarely  have  there  been  any  extra 
meetings  during  the  year,  or  any  other  means  taken  to  awaken 
an  interest  in  the  subject,  though  I  believe  Mr.  Gotigh  has 
once  or  twice  lectured  at  Commencement,  at  the  request  of  the 
Society.  I  ought  also  to  say  that  in  some  years  pressing 
duties  prevented  me  from  offering  the  pledge  till  some  months 
after  the  class  had  joined  College;  and  in  such  cases,  I 
always  found  that  the  numbers  who  joined  were  less  than 
when  it  was  offered  early.  The  fact  is,  within  a  month  or 
two  students  who  join  college  generally  get  their  companions 
chosen,  and  find  their  way  into  the  channels  of  college  life  in 
which  they  will  continue  through  the  whole  course,  unless 
God's  Spirit  meet  them  in  their  path.  If  they  find  out  that 
a  temperance  pledge  will  be  in  their  way,  or  unpleasant  to 
the  companions  they  have  chosen,  they  will  of  course  think 
it  best  to  keep  clear  of  it.  I  have  often  looked  with  sadness 
upon  a  fine,  susceptible  and  talented  young  man  refusing  the 
pledge,  because  I  feared  he  was  deciding  his  fate,  by  refusing 
to  take  the  only  safeguard  that  could  prevent  his  ruin ;  and 
the  result  has  often  confirmed  my  fears.  But  when  such  a 
young  man  came  forward  promptly  and  put  down  his  name, 
I  have  marked  him  as  destined  for  distinction,  and  accordingly 
I  find  that  out  of  thirty  valedictorians,  as  many  certainly  as 
twenty-two,  and  I  believe  more,  have  been  pledged  Anti- 
veneneans. 

At  first  our  Diplomas  contained  a  lithographic  view  of  the 
Colleges  from  a  north-west  stand-point,  and  beneath  it  a 
certificate  o'f  membership,  signed  by  the  President  and  Secre 
tary,  giving  the  pledge  in  full.  Subsequently,  another  plate 
was  prepared,  differing  little  from  the  first,  except  that  a  foun 
tain,  (ideal,  of  course,  as  none  exists  there,)  was  placed  in 
front  of  the  Colleges,  near  where  the  Woods  Cabinet  now 
stands.  Still  more  recently,  aided  by  the  continued  benefac 
tions  of  Mr.  Tappan,  we  got  Mr.  Billings,  of  Boston,  distin 
guished  for  his  skilful  designs,  to  prepare  a  vignette,  which, 


THE   PLEDGE.  1ST 

with  a  blank  certificate  beneath,  we  had  engraved  on  steel, 
so  that  now  the  Society  has  the  means,  at  a,  very  slight 
expense,  of  furnishing  very  elegant  diplomas. 

This  plate  represents  Minerva,  the  goddess  of  "Wisdom, 
offering  the  pledge  of  temperance  to  a  student,  at  the  same 
time  pointing  him  to  Temperance,  with  a  garland  of  victory 
in  her  hands.  Behind  Minerva  are  several  philosophers, 
and  one  of  them  is  putting  upon  a  tablet  the  names  of  the 
neophytes.  Above,  in  the  clouds,  are  Apollo  and  the  Muses. 
On  the  right  is  a  fountain  of  water,  from  which  a  servant  is 
filling  a  pitcher,  and  hard  by  is  an  altar  on  which  'Eyxgdreiu 
(Temperance)  is  inscribed,  and  on  the  left  hand  another  altar, 
with  So(f-ln  (Wisdom)  written  upon  it.  Beneath  is  placed 
the  title  of  one  of  Anacreon's  Odes — "  "AQUJTW  £iit>  vduo  " — 
"  Water  is  indeed  best." 

This  Society  has  not  accomplished  what  it  might  have  done 
if  more  carefully  nourished  and  given  a  higher  prestige.  My 
conviction  has  been  that  occasional  meetings  where  the  officers 
of  the  College  would  meet  the  students  and  without  much 
formality  talk  upon  temperance,  would  have  been  of  great 
service,  judging  from  the  few  meetings  of  this  kind  which  have 
been  called.  Moreover,  we  should  be  more  decided  than  we 
have  been,  to  erase  the  names  of  those  who  have  violated  the 
pledge,  which  I  do  not  recollect  to  have  been  done  but  in  a 
single  instance.  Complaints  have  often  been  made  that  mem 
bers  have  often  showed  but  little  regard  to  the  pledge.  It 
may  have  been  so  in  some  instances.  But  what  shall  we  think 
of  tlie  moral  character  of  that  young  man  who  has  pledged  his 
honor  and  called  on  God  for  help,  and  yet  recklessly  disregards 
his  sacred  obligations  !  I  am  sure  that  the  great  majority  of 
our  students  are  not  so  low  in  moral  character  and  so  seared 
in  conscience.  So  that  the  Society  has  done  immense  good. 
It  may  be  used  in  future  to  do  much  more  and  to  save  many 
from  ruin.  For  it  is  not  to  be  concealed  that  the  tendency  of 


158  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

opinion  and  of  practice  at  this  day  is  to  look  disparagingly 
upon  temperance  pledges,  and  to  return  to  the  drinking  usages 
of  the  last  generation.  But  certain  I  am  that  more  than  half 
of  the  cases  of  discipline  in  College  have  resulted  from  the  use 
of  intoxicating  drinks.  With  such  facts  before  them,  it  would 
be  passing  strange  if  the  officers  of  Amherst  College  should 
not  avail  themselves  of  every  opportunity  to  guard  their  pupils 
against  such  indulgences,  and  they  cannot  but  see  that  though 
pledged  abstinence  be  not  an  infallible  security,  it  does  help  a 
man  amazingly  in  time  of  temptation.  This  Society  has 
already  become  almost  venerable  for  years,  and  it  has  the 
prestige  of  showing  upon  its  roll  the  names  of  three-quarters 
of  the  students  for  the  last  thirty  years.  "Where  can  so  good 
a  basis  be  found  for  future  efforts  in  the  temperance  cause  ? 
I  have  not  done  what  I  could  have  wished  with  such  a 
society  ;  but  I  have  succeeded,  by  the  help  of  my  colleagues, 
in  keeping  the  temperance  flag  flying  for  more  than  thirty 
years.  Let  those  who  come  after  me  see  to  it  that  it  be  not 
torn  down  and  trampled  in  the  dust. 


RELIGIOUS  HISTORY.  159 


SECTION    VI. 

RELIGIOUS  HISTORY. 

The  religious  history  of  Amherst  College  is  more  important 
and  interesting  than  every  thing  else  pertaining  to  it.  It  is, 
moreover,  the  bright  side  of  the  institution.  Man  has  often 
been  hostile  to  us,  but  God  has  always  been  our  friend.  Dark 
as  our  external  prospects  have  often  been,  our  religious  condi 
tion  has  always  been  more  or  less  encouraging.  I  do  not 
mean  that  we  have  not  often  experienced  sad  religious  declen 
sions,  but  that  in  the  lowest  condition,  religion  has  had  a 
powerful  hold  in  the  community,  and  formed  indeed,  the  grand 
controlling  influence.  So  far  as  a  high  state  of  the  religious 
affections  is  concerned,  we  have  often  had  occasion  to  cry  out 
our  leanness,  our  leanness,  and  to  deplore  our  want  of  fidelity 
to  Christ  and  the  souls  of  men.  But  it  was  not  apostacy,  it 
was  not  the  abandonment  of  the  great  principles  of  the 
Gospel.  Never  has  there  been  a  time  when  there  was  not 
an  overwhelming  majority  rooted  and  grounded  in  these  prin 
ciples,  and  resting  upon  them  for  their  own  salvation  and  the 
salvation  of  the  world.  It  was  not  a  mere  general  acknowl 
edgment  of  the  truth  of  Christianity,  but  a  distinct  avowal 
of  its  characteristic  doctrines,  called  generally,  the  doctrines 
of  the  Reformation,  or  evangelical  doctrines.  Hence  there 
has  ever  been  an  unshaken  trust  in  God  in  the  darkest  hour. 
And  God  has  honored  such  trust  by  standing  by  us  in  every 
exigency,  and  though  not  always  delivering  us  from  external 
difficulties,  He  has  ever  been  ready  to  bless  us  spiritually, 
and  to  make  even  our  sorest  trials  the  means  of  rich  religious 
blessings.  Nay,  the  deeper  the  darkness  that  hung  over  our 
outward  prosperity,  the  more  sure  were  we  to  realize  God's 


160  REMINISCENCES   OF    AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

presence  in  our  souls.  Nor  has  returning  prosperity,  thus 
far,  caused  our  heavenly  Father  to  withdraw  from  us,  though 
it  is  a  state  far  more  dangerous  to  our  spiritual  condition  than 
the  deepest  adversity,  and  calling  for  special  vigilance.  But, 
upon  the  whole,  the  religious  condition  of  the  College  has  not 
been  subject  to  those  fluctuations  which  have  attended  our 
financial  condition  and  estimation  by  the  public.  It  has  been 
rather  a  continued  state  of  religious  prosperity,  though  not  a 
state  of  continued  revival.  Let  us  go  into  some  details. 

1.  ORIGIN  AND  OBJECT  OF  THE  COLLEGE. 
The  more  unreservedly  men  consecrate  themselves  or  their 
labors  and  property  to  God's  service,  the  more  certain  may 
they  be  of  the  Divine  blessing.  Never  was  this  consecration 
more  entire  than  in  founding  Amherst  College.  The  first 
corner-stone  that  was  laid  is  all  covered  over  with  inscriptions, 
distinctly  avowing  the  grand  object  for  which  it  was  laid,  and 
solemnly  consecrating  it  to  God.  I  refer  to  "  A  Constitution 
and  System  of  By-Laws  for  raising  and  managing  a  Permanent 
Charitable  Fund,  as  the  basis  of  an  Institution  in  Amherst,  in 
the  County  of  Hampshire,  for  the  classical  education  of  indi 
gent  young  men  of  piety  and  talents  for  the  Christian  Ministry." 
To  show  the  object  and  spirit  of  the  founders  it  is  only  neces 
sary  to  quote  the  Preamble  and  first  Article  of  this  Constitution, 
and  perhaps  one  or  twro  other  sentences. 

"  Taking  into  consideration  the  deplorable  condition  of  a  large  por 
tion  of  our  race  who  are  enveloped  in  the  most  profound  ignorance, 
cruel  superstition,  and  gross  idolatry ;  and  many  of  them  in  a  savage 
state  without  a  written  language  :  together  with  vast  multitudes  in 
Christian  countries  of  which  our  own  affords  a  lamentable  specimen, 
who  are  dispersed  over  extensive  territories,  as  sheep  without  a 
shepherd : — 

"Impressed  with  the  most  fervent  commiseration  for  our  destitute 
brethren,  and  urged  by  the  command  of  our  divine  Saviour  to  preach 
the  gospel  to  every  creature ;  we  have  resolved  to  consecrate  to  the 
Author  of  all  good,  for  the  honor  of  his  name,  and  the  benefit  of 
our  race,  a  portion  of  the  treasure  or  inheritance  which  He  has  been 


OBJECT  OF  THE  COLLEGE.  161 

pleased  to  intrust  to  our  stewardship,  in  the  firm  belief  that  « it  is 
more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive. 

"  Under  the  conviction  that  the  education  of  pious  young  men  of 
the  first  talents  in  community,  is  the  most  sure  method  of  relieving 
our  brethren,  by  civilizing  and  evangelizing  the  world ;  and  that  a 
Classical  Institution  judiciously  located,  and  richly  endowed  with  a 
large  and  increasing  charitable  fund,  in  co-operation  with  theological 
seminaries  and  education  societies,  will  be  the  most  eligible  way  of 
effecting  it : 

"  Therefore,  We,  the  undersigned,  have  solemnl}T,  deliberately,  and 
prayerfully  made,  constituted  and  ratified,  and  by  these  presents, 
and  for  the  foregoing  weighty  considerations,  do  make,  constitute, 
and  ratify,  the  following  Constitution  and  System  of  By-Laws, 
together  with  the  preceding  preamble,  as  the  basis  of  such  a  fund, 
and  for  the  raising  and  managing  the  same. 

"ART.  1.  In  contemplating  the  felicitous  state  of  society,  which  is 
predicted  in  the  scriptures  of  truth,  and  the  rapid  approach  of  such 
a  state,  which  the  auspices  of  the  present  day  clearly  indicate ;  and 
desiring  to  add  our  feeble  efforts  to  the  various  exertions  of  the 
Christian  community,  for  effecting  so  glorious  an  event ;  we  have 
associated  together  for  the  express  purpose  of  founding  an  Institu 
tion  upon  the  genuine  principles  of  charity  and  benevolence,  for  the 
instruction  of  youth  in  all  the  branches  of  literature  and  science 
usually  taught  in  colleges ;  to  be  located  in  the  town  of  Amherst, 
in  the  County  of  Hampshire,  and  incorporated  with  the  Academy 
in  that  place,  and  with  Williams  College  also,  should  it  continue  to 
be  thought  expedient  to  remove  that  seminary  to  said  County  of 
Hampshire,  and  to  locate  it  in  the  town  of  Amherst,  and  to  be 
called ." 

"  The  principal  of  the  fund  shall  be  sacred  and  intangible,  not  sub 
ject  to  be  diminished  by  any  exigency,  the  act  of  God  excepted,  but 
shall  be  perpetually  augmenting,  by  donations,  subscriptions,  grants, 
legacies  and  bequests,  and  by  the  addition  of  one-sixth  part  of  the 
interest  and  other  avails,  as  aforesaid." 

"ART.  13.  It  being  the  design  of  the  founders  of  this  establish 
ment,  that  its  benefits  should  be  handed  down  inviolate  to  all  suc 
ceeding  generations,  and  considering  the  inadequacy  of  human 
forethought  to  provide  for  every  exigence  that  may  occur  in  the 
course  of  long  experience,  we  the  undersigned  agree,  that  this  Con 
stitution  and  System  of  By-Laws,  may  be  altered  or  amended,  by  the 
board  of  Trustees  of  said  institution,  and  the  board  of  Overseers 
of  said  fund,  so  however,  as  not  to  deviate  from  the  original  object 


162  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

of  civilizing  and  evangelizing  the  world,  by  the  classical  education 
of  indigent  young  men  of  piety  and  talents ;  but,  it  shall  not  be 
altered  or  amended,  except  from  the  most  weighty  considerations." 

Now  we  who  remember  the  men  who  founded  Amherst 
College,  know  very  well  that  in  using  such  language  as  this 
they  were  perfectly  honest  and  hearty.  We  should  expect, 
therefore,  that  the  God  who  honors  them  that  honor  Him 
would  smile  upon  their  enterprise.  After  the  lapse  of  more 
than  forty  years,  we  are  in  a  position  to  judge  of  the  results. 
Let  us  look  at  some  of  the  most  important. 

2.     REVIVALS. 

Up  to  the  present  time,  (July,  1863,)  the  College  has 
enjoyed  marked  seasons  of  special  religious  interest  in  the 
following  years,  viz.:  1823,  1827,  1828,  1831,  1835,  1839, 
1842,  1846,  1850,  1853,  1855,  1857,  1858,  and  1862. 
Besides  these  fourteen  prominent  revivals,  many  other  seasons 
of  special  interest  have  existed  in  the  institution,  which, 
though  not  dignified  by  the  name  of  revivals,  have  yet  been 
of  unspeakable  importance  in  raising  the  standard  of  practi 
cal  piety,  and  in  fitting  the  successive  classes  to  go  forth  into 
the  world  with  a  more  glowing  and  fresher  love  to  God  and 
man  than  otherwise  they  would  have  felt ;  and,  moreover,  in 
all  such  cases,  a  few  are  hopefully  converted.  I  have  placed 
the  interest  in  1860  in  this  class,  though  it  has  been  generally 
reckoned  as  one  of  the  marked  revivals.  In  the  seasons  of 
revival  the  average  number  of  converts  has  been  from  twenty 
to  thirty.  In  Professor  Tyler's  Premium  Essay  on  Prayer 
for  Colleges,  he  estimates  that  during  the  first  thirty  years  of 
the  existence  of  the  College,  from  two  hundred  and  fifty  to  three 
hundred  were  converted,  and  the  twelve  succeeding  years 
have  doubtless  added  sixty  or  seventy  more.  We  think  it 
not  extravagant  to  say  that  probably  as  many  as  three  hun 
dred  and  fifty  have  begun  their  religious  life  here.  Not  a 
few  of  these  have  been  men  very  prominent  and  influential. 


REVIVALS.  163 

Of  the  two  hundred  and  fifty  named  by  Professor  Tyler,  lie 
says  that  more  than  one  hundred  have  been  ministers  of  the 
Gospel,  fifteen  missionaries,  and  twenty-eight  officers  of  col 
leges  and  "theological  seminaries.  Of  individuals  may  be 
named  such  men  as  Professor  Bela  B.  Edwards,  Professor 
William  A.  Peabody,  Henry  Lyman,  Story  Hebard,  Timothy 
Dwight,  Amos  Bullard,  W.  Bradford  Homer,  Alexander  W. 
McClure,  Ebenezer  Burgess,  Charles  Hartwell,  Daniel  W. 
Poor,  Richard  S.  Storrs,  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  Edward  D. 
Neill,  Henry  M.  Storrs,  Daniel  Bliss,  Zephaniah  Humphrey, 
Professor  Joseph  Haven,  Professor  Francis  Andrew  March, 
Professors  Edward  P.  and  John  Humphrey,  Jonathan  C. 
Perkins,  Nathan  Belcher,  Henry  Lobdell,  Henry  Adams. 

Up  to  the  present  time,  (1863,)  we  are  able  to  say  that  no 
class  has  passed  through  College  without  also  passing  through 
a  marked  revival.  Indeed,  fourteen  revivals  in  forty  years, 
make  one  every  three  years. 

Professor  Tyler  has  reasoned  ably  to  show  not  only  that 
revivals  are  in  harmony  with  the  movements  of  nature  and 
Providence  in  other  things,  but  also  that  our  standard  of 
effort  and  limitation  of  faith  in  being  satisfied  with  one  revival 
for  each  class,  is  low  and  narrow.  I  quote  a  few  paragraphs. 

"  llevivals  of  religion  are  not  yet  so  frequent,  or  so  pure  or  power 
ful,  even  in  college,  as  it  is  greatly  to  be  desired  they  should  be. 
Why  should  not  a  revival  occur  every  year,  that  every  class,  as  it 
enters,  may  also  enter  the  school  of  Christ ;  and  as  it  advances  from 
year  to  year  in  the  college  course,  may  receive  a  fresh  anointing  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  and  so  all  their  studies  be  pursued  in  his  illuminat 
ing  presence,  and  holiness  to  the  Lord  be  written  on  every  hall,  on 
the  door  of  every  room,  and  at  the  entrance  to  every  heart  ?  Then 
would  they  indeed  know  all  things  which  it  chiefly  concerns  them  to 
know,  having  received  an  unction  from  the  Holy  One. 

"  Every  thing  else  in  college  is  periodical.  This  is  one  of  the  most 
striking  characteristics  of  college  life.  Why,  then,  should  not  special 
attention  to  the  subject  of  personal  religion  be  periodical  ?  Classes 
enter  and  leave  every  year.  Why  should  they  not  be  converted 
every  year  ?  Why  should  this  not  be  distinctly  contemplated,  ex- 


164  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

pressly  aimed  at,  and  specially  provided  for,  like  all  the  other  regular 
exercises  and  arrangements  of  the  institution  ?  This  would  not  be 
inconsistent  with  the  design  of  such  institutions,  or  conflict  with  the 
studies  or  literary  attainments  of  the  student.  On  the  contrary,  it 
would  harmonize  with  that  design ;  nay,  more,  it  is  due  to  that 
design  :  for  colleges  in  their  original  plan  and  intention  were  meant 
to  be  religious  institutions.  And  it  would  greatly  further  the  ad 
vancement  of  students  in  learning;  for  the  principles  and  spirit  of 
true  religion  are  the  surest  guide,  the  strongest  stimulus  to  the  right 
use  of  time,  to  the  best  improvement  of  talents  and  opportunities, 
and  to  the  most  successful  prosecution  of  all  useful  knowledge ; 
insomuch,  that  not  only  theologians  and  reformers,  but  philosophers 
and  scholars  have  indorsed  the  maxim :  '  Bene  orasse  est  bene 
studuisse ;' — to  have  prayed  well,  is  to  have  studied  well." 

Of  the  above  named  revivals,  the  first,  in  1823,  was  during 
tlie  Presidency  of  Dr.  Moore  ;  the  next  six  during  the  twenty- 
two  years'  Presidency  of  Dr.  Humphrey ;  the  next  three 
during  the  ten  years  when  I  held  that  office,  and  the  remaining 
four  since  Dr.  Stearns  assumed  the  office,  in  1854. 

In  all  these  revivals  except  the  first,  it  has  been  my  privilege 
to  be  present,  and  to  participate  in  the  labors  connected  with 
their  progress.  Even  at  the  close  of  the  first  one  I  preached 
a  sermon  by  request  of  Dr.  Moore,  which  was  published  under 
41  title  of  "  Retrospection."  In  all  the  others  I  took  my  turn 
in  preaching ;  and  of  four  I  had  the  responsible  oversight, 
three  during  my  Presidency,  and  one  when  I  was  Dr.  Humph 
rey's  locum  tenens  during  his  absence  in  Europe.  Gladly 
would  I  detail  many  of  the  interesting  scenes  which  I  witnessed 
during  these  seasons  when  a  struggle  was  going  on  between 
grace  and  nature  in  the  hearts  of  many  who  have  since  become 
eminent  as  ministers  and  missionaries.  How  animating  it  was 
when  grace  triumphed!  How  sad  when  nature  prevailed,  and 
the  sinner  reverted  to  his  former  state  of  indifference  !  If  I 
should  refer  in  another  place  to  individual  histories,  I  may 
give  some  facts  of  this  sort,  but  I  pass  them  over  now. 

I  have  alluded  to  the  responsibility  of  having  charge  of  a 
revival,  and  it  is  indeed  a  solemn  and  weighty  trust,  especially 


ANTECEDENTS.  165 

in  a  college  revival.  For  such  a  work  usually  moves  forward 
much  more  rapidly  than  in  other  communities.  In  general 
the  whole  matter  is  decided  in  the  course  of  a  few  weeks,  and 
if  one  does  not  seize  the  favorable  moment,  or  tries  to  hold 
back  the  current  of  feeling,  he  will  find  his  subsequent  efforts 
unavailing.  I  think  that  often  college  officers  fail  here  through 
fear  of  extravagance  and  fanaticism.  But  young  men  are 
ardent  and  impulsive,  yet  I  have  found  the  danger  of  excess 
among  those  who  have  been  religiously  educated  to  be  small, 
and  I  must  say  that  revivals  are  more  apt  to  be  prevented  or 
diminished  in  power  by  the  want  of  preparation  in  officers  than 
students.  Not  unfrequently  by  the  time  the  former  have 
become  fully  awake,  the  latter  have  exhausted  their  sensibili 
ties  and  that  overpowering  zeal  which  carries  every  thing 
before  it,  and  they  cannot  again  be  brought  into  sympathy 
with  the  work.  On  the  other  hand,  I  think  I  have  seen  more 
cases  where  there  has  been  such  a  multiplication  of  means  and 
expenditure  of  feeling  before  the  revival  was  fairly  estab 
lished,  that  the  interest  soon  flagged  and  the  work  was 
ephemeral.  Inexperienced  young  Christians  are  very  apt  in 
such  cases  to  run  before  the  Spirit,  and  fail  by  attempting  to 
do  the  work  without  his  aid  and  the  requisite  preparation  ;. 
If  there  be  not  sufficient  feeling  in  a  church  to  sustain  an 
increase  of  meetings,  they  do  more  hurt  than  good.  It  is 
exceedingly  important,  therefore,  for  the  pastor  to  have 
enough  of  experience  in  revivals  and  of  interest  in  saving 
souls,  to  be  able  to  hold  the  helm  with  a  steady  hand  and  to 
keep  enough,  but  not  too  much  canvas  flying. 

I  am  led  by  these  remarks  to  say  a  few  words  about  the 
means  that  have  been  used  to  bring  about  and  carry  forward 
these  revivals.  For  though  impossible  without  the  sovereign 
grace  of  God,  like  every  thing  else  in  this  world  not  miraculous, 
they  are  always  connected  with  means  as  their  antecedents, 
and  if  no  means  are  used,  we  have  no  reason  to  expect  reviv 
als.  The  grand,  all-essential  means  is  the  presentation  of 
evangelical  truth.  But  its  success  in  turning  men's  special 


166  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHEBST   COLLEGE. 

attention  to  personal  religion  depends  on  a  variety  of  circum 
stances.  The  most  important  of  these  is  the  state  of  heart  in  him 
who  presents  the  truth.  And  in  all  cases  which  I  have  traced 
out,  I  have  found  a  silent  preparation  in  the  hearts  of  Christians 
to  have  preceded  the  revival.  They  have  been  deeply  hum 
bled  by  a  sense  of  their  selfishness,  worldliness  and  want  of 
interest  in  the  cause  of  religion,  and  often  the  struggle  in  their 
bosoms  has  been  long  and  painful,  before  they  were  brought 
into  a  state  in  which  they  could  labor  effectively  to  bring 
about  a  revival.  If  only  a  very  few  in  a  church  are  thor 
oughly  permeated  by  such  feelings  and  feel  so  straitened  in 
their  souls  that  they  cannot  but  make  manifest  their  emotions, 
and  must  strive  to  rouse  their  brethren  to  duty  and  impenitent 
men  to  repentance,  we  may  hope  for  a  revival,  even  though  a 
large  majority  take  no  interest  in  the  work. 

If,  now,  the  pastor  of  a  church  is  in  such  a  state  as  he  ought 
to  be,  he  will  be  watching  for  favorable  times,  or  endeavor  to 
make  them,  for  producing  such  a  state  of  feeling  as  we  have 
described.  One  of  the  means  of  doing  this  is  by  faithful 
preaching  on  the  Sabbath  and  at  other  times.  But  if  he  stop 
here,  he  will  probably  fail,  especially  in  college,  where  Christ 
is  often  crucified,  not  only  between  the  two  thieves,  Classics 
and  Mathematics,  but  a  third  one  is  always  ready  to  drive 
the  nails,  viz.,  Rhetorical  Criticism. 

Private  conversation  with  Christians  is  another  admirable 
means  to  quicken  the  religious  sensibilities.  Sometimes  the 
pastor  or  professor  will  find  that  the  Spirit  has  gone  before 
him,  and  that  some  among  the  students  are  ahead  of  their 
teachers,  in  which  case  he  will,  if  a  wise  Christian  man, 
become  the  learner  and  quicken  his  pace  in  the  divine  life. 
All  my  experience  goes  to  convince  me  that  such  private 
conversation  is  one  of  the  most  powerful  of  all  the  means  of 
grace  in  a  college,  and  yet  I  fear  that  many  officers  so 
hedge  themselves  about  with  false  notions  of  dignity,  that 
they  sadly  neglect  this  duty.  But  certainly  the  pastor  of  a 
college  church  should  be  free  from  all  such  red  tape-ism. 


PRAYER   MEETINGS.  167 

To  multiply  religious  meetings,  publicly  announced  and 
understood  to  be  designed  to  bring  on  a  revival  before  any 
special  interest  appears,  even  on  the  part  of  Christians,  is 
a  dangerous  experiment.  But  private  and  more  informal 
prayer-meetings,  of  which  no  public  announcements  are  made, 
usually  have  a  good  effect ;  for  they  indicate  more  than  usual 
religious  feeling.  I  have  known  these  often  apparently  the 
means  of  a  revival. 

From  the  beginning,  Thursday  evening  has  been  devoted 
to  a  religious  lecture,  either  written  or  extemporaneous,  by 
one  of  the  clerical  members  of  the  Faculty,  the  attendance 
of  the  students  and  families  of  the  officers  being  voluntary. 
This  meeting  has  been  a  means  of  great  good,  and  the  amount 
of  attendance  upon  it  has  been  a  tolerably  good  index  of  the 
state  of  religious  feeling  in  the  College.  I  had  always  felt  it 
to  be  desirable,  however,  that  a  meeting  where  somewhat 
more  familiar  relations  could  be  established  between  the  pastor 
and  his  flock  would  be  quite  desirable,  and  accordingly,  when 
I  assumed  the  Presidency,  I  privately  informed  one  or  two 
members  of  the  senior  class  that  every  Monday  evening,  at  a 
certain  hour,  my  study  would  be  open  to  any  members  of 
College  who  might  like  to  spend  a  half  hour  (to  which  time 
I  should  rigidly  limit  the  meeting,)  in  prayer  and  religious 
conference.  Not  a  word  was  ever  said  in  public  about  this 
meeting,  yet  it  never  lacked  attendants.  I  told  them  I  should 
generally  call  on  them  for  prayers,  and  that  I  would  then 
make  familiar  remarks  upon  some  practical  question,  proposed 
at  the  preceding  meeting,  and  would  be  glad,  also,  to  hear 
their  remarks.  I  sat  at  my  study  table,  and  the  room  was 
usually  so  closely  packed  that  we  could  not  even  kneel  in 
prayer.  It  seemed  like  a  great  family  at  morning  or  evening 
prayers,  conversing  upon  experimental  religion,  and  I  do  not 
doubt  that  the  home  feeling  this  produced  had  much  to  do 
with  the  interest  which  the  meeting  seemed  to  excite.  At  the 
season  of  the  year  when  the  annual  fast  for  colleges  occurs,  I 
directed  my  questions  to  subjects  adapted  to  prepare  Chris- 


168  REMINISCENCES   OF   AM H ERST   COLLEGE. 

tians  for  a  special  work  of  grace  ;  such,  for  instance,  as  the 
following  : 

What  is  tiie  proper  mode  of  conducting  the  work  of  self- 
examination  ? 

By  what  marks  may  we  know  whether  we  have  the  true 
spirit  of  prayer  ? 

How  shall  we  know  whether  we  stand  in  the  way  of  spir 
itual  blessings  descending  upon  the  community  in  which  we 
live  ? 

How  shall  we  best  acquire  and  preserve  a  quick  sensibility 
of  conscience  ? 

What  special  means  are  to  be  employed,  and  how  far,  by 
the  Christian,  in  awakening  a  deeper  interest  in  religion 
among  those  around  him  ? 

What  are  the  elements  of  a  true  revival  spirit  in  the  hearts 
of  Christians  ? 

By  a  judicious  selection  and  arrangement  of  such  questions, 
it  is  obvious  that  Christians  might  soon  be  pressed  into  an 
uncomfortable  corner,  if  they  were  in  an  alienated  state,  and 
that  they  would  not  rest  till  they  had  got  into  a  better  state, 
and  thus  these  meetings  sometimes  seemed  the  means  of 
revivals.  In  such  a  case  the  numbers  increased  so  much  as 
to  drive  us  out  of  my  study,  and  my  family  used  every  week 
to  fill  one  of  the  large  parlors  of  the  President's  house  with 
seats.  But  when  the  meetings  were  so  manifestly  blessed  of 
God,  I  did  not  dare  to  transfer  the  meeting  to  one  of  the 
public  rooms  in  college,  lest  its  peculiar  attractions  should  be 
destroyed.  I  rejoice  that  I  did  not :  for  in  subsequent  years, 
by  letters  from  graduates,  I  found  that  probably  no  other 
religious  effort  which  I  ever  made  was  so  blessed  of  God  as 
this.  Sometimes  thrilling  incidents  occurred  in  the  meetings, 
of  which  I  may  perhaps  give  one  or  two  examples  farther  on. 
And  sometimes  the  prayers  made  by  my  young  brethren  had 
an  unction,  an  eloquence  and  a  power,  which  I  have  never 
heard  elsewhere,  and  whose  impression  remains  upon  my 
memory  to  this  day. 


ANNUAL  CONCERT  OF  PRAYER.         169 

The  Annual  Concert  of  Prayer  for  Colleges,  on  the  last 
Thursday  in  February,  has  ever  been  a  powerful  instrumen 
tality  in  the  work  of  revivals  among  us.  It  was  begun  in 
1823,  though  a  Sabbath  morning  concert  of  prayer  had  been 
observed  earlier.  The  annual  concert  has  been  observed  at 
Amherst  ever  since  its  origination.  I  have  been  present  at 
all  of  them  since  1825,  except  two,  I  think  —  detained  once 
by  sickness,  and  once  by  absence  from  the  town  —  and  I 
can  testify  that  it  has  ever  been  one  of  the  most  powerful 
means  of  grace  that  I  have  ever  witnessed.  The  regular 
preaching  in  the  afternoon  is  not  generally  any  more  effective 
than  a  good  sermon  on  the  Sabbath :  but  the  more  private 
prayer-meetings,  especially  that  in  the  forenoon  in  the  Side 
Chapel,  where  attendance  is  voluntary  and  not  required,  as  in 
the  afternoon,  has  always  shown  deep  religious  feeling,  and 
words  that  melt  and  .burn  have  often  issued  from  hearts 
oppressed  with  responsibility,  and  agonizing  to  see  the  work 
of  the  Lord  revived.  The  consequence  has  always  been  a 
quickened  state  of  religious  feeling  among  Christians,  and 
sometimes  a  revival  could  be  distinctly  traced  to  the  exercises 
of  that  day.  Its  influence  and  importance  are  well  set  forth 
by  Prof.  Tyler,  in  his  Prayer  for  Colleges. 

The  influence  of  this  Concert  upon  revivals  shows  us  that 
in  God's  plans  the  proper  preparation  of  the  hearts  of  Chris 
tians  in  college  may  not  be  all  the  requisites  for  securing  the 
blessing.  He  may  also  require  a  proper  state  of  feeling  and 
action  in  the  community  that  contains  and  sustains  the  college. 
How  often  have  I  seen  the  College  church  apparently  in  a 
humble  waiting  and  anxious  state,  yet  pleading  and  waiting  in 
vain  for  a  revival.  Something  out  of  sight  may  have  been 
wrong  in  all  these  cases.  But  may  there  not  have  been  some 
thing  wrong  also  in  the  churches  of  the  land  whose  duty  it  is 
to  pray  and  labor  for  the  colleges?  Especially  may  not  some 
thing  be  wrong  often  in  the  hearts  of  Christian  parents  and 
friends  who  have  unconverted  sons  in  college  ?  In  the  revival 
of  1846,  so  suspicious  was  I  that  some  foreign  influence  was 


170  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

exerted  even  more  powerful  than  that  in  College,  that  I  tried 
to  ascertain  how  much  of  it  proceeded  from  the  prayers  and 
efforts  of  parents.  I  reproduce  the  results  here  as  contained 
in  my  account  of  that  revival  as  published  in  several  news 
papers,  according  to  a  general  practice. 

"  Towards  the  close  of  this  work,  my  attention  was  accidentally 
directed  to  the  connection  between  the  prayers  and  efforts  of  Christian 
parents,  or  other  pious  friends,  and  the  conversion  of  their  sons  and 
relatives ;  and  I  was  led  to  direct  the  following  inquiries  to  several  of 
the  parents  and  friends  of  those  hopefully  converted. 

"  <  Have  you,  or  your  wife,  had  any  special  anxiety  of  late,  and 
before  you  heard  of  the  revival  in  College,  as  to  the  conversion  of 
your  son  ?  and  if  so,  were  you  led  to  any  unusual  earnestness  in  prayer 
in  his  behalf  ?  or,  have  you  been  thus  stirred  up  since  you  heard  of 
the  revival,  but  before  you  knew  that  he  was  awakened  ? ' 

"  These  questions  do  indeed  relate  to  points  of  great  delicacy;  and 
they  were  answered  with  much  reluctance.  But  the  answers  seem  to 
me  so  fraught  with  interest  and  encouragement  to  parents  to  prayer 
and  faithful  exhortation,  that  I  cannot  believe  their  authors  will  blame 
me  if,  suppressing  names,  I  present  extracts  in  this  communication, 
although  they  had  no  idea  that  any  such  use  would  be  made  of  their 
letters. 

"  « When entered  College,'  says  a  father,  «  we  endeavored  to 

commend  him  anew  to  God.  On  hearing  of  the  revival  in  College, 
our  anxiety  for  him  was  awakened  anew.  The  thought  that  he  should 
be  passed  by  was  overwhelming.  We  conversed  with,  and  tried  to 
pray  with,  and  for  him  ;  but  dare  not  cherish  the  belief  that  our  poor 
services  have  been  the  means  of  his  conversion ;  rather  would  we  be 
deeply  humbled  for  our  want  of  fidelity  and  unbelief.  We  attribute 
it  solely  to  the  free,  rich  and  sovereign  grace  of  God.' 

"A  clergyman,  answering  my  inquiries  in  behalf  of  a  widowed 
mother,  says,  among  other  things  :  «  She  has  authorized  me  to  say,  that 
she  was  unusually  anxious  as  to  the  conversion  of  her  son,  and  was 
led  to  more  than  ordinary  earnestness  in  prayer  in  his  behalf,  before 
she  heard  of  the  revival  in  College.  This,  she  says,  was  particularly 
the  case  on  the  day  of  the  concert  of  prayer  for  colleges.  We 
observed  it  here ;  and  what  was  said  made  a  deep  impression  on  Mrs. 

's  mind ;  and  she  fervently  prayed  that  there  might  be  a  revival 

in  College,  and  her  son  become  a  subject  of  renewing  grace.  At  that 
meeting  we  all  thought  of  him  particularly,  and  earnestly  prayed  for 


AGENCY  OF  PARENTS.  171 

his  conversion.  This  mother  informs  me,  that,  when  the  family  lived 

in ,  she  and  several  mothers  in  the  church  were  accustomed,  on 

the  day  of  the  College  Concert,  to  hold  a  meeting  by  themselves  to 
pray  particularly  for  the  conversion  of  their  sons.  If,  then,  it  would 
perhaps  be  too  much  to  say,  that  his  conversion  <  has  taken  place  as  a 
special  answer  to  the  special  prayers  of  a  mother,'  it  may  be  safely 
inferred,  that  the  prayers  of  his  mother  and  of  Christian  friends  here 
have  been  answered.' 

"  The  father  of  another  hopeful  convert  writes  :  <  In  answer  to  your 
inquiries,  I  would  say,  that  as  for  myself  I  had  not  felt  any  thing 
more  than  my  usual  desire  for  his  conversion  until  I  heard  by  Mr. 

that  there  was  more  than  usual  attention  to  religion  at  College. 

I  then  prayed  with  more  faith.  My  wife  thinks  that  she  had  felt  rather 
more  than  usual  solicitude  for  a  longer  time.  However  that  may  be, 
on  hearing  of  the  seriousness,  she  was  stirred  up,  and  conversed  with 
some  of  her  female  friends,  members  of  the  maternal  association, 
requesting  them  to  intercede  at  the  throne  of  Grace  in  his  behalf;  and 
I  trust  that  some  of  the  many  prayers  which  have  been  offered  for  him 
have  found  acceptance  with  God.' 

"Another  father,  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  thus  replies:  <I  have 
had  strong  hopes  that  our  son  would  become  a  Christian,  and  we  have 
felt  this  for  years ;  but  since  the  Fast  (for  Colleges)  this  feeling  has 
increased.  And  I  find  by  conversing  with  others,  who  are  my  par 
ishioners,  that  they  have  had  similar  feelings.  We  did  not  hear  of 
the  revival  in  College  till  the  letter  arrived  which  contained  an  account 
of  the  change  in  his  feelings.  O  that  God  would  prepare  our  son  to 
be  a  minister  of  the  Gospel !  Most  cheerfully  would  I  say,  Go, 
wherever  God  shall  direct.' 

"  Says  the  mother  of  another  individual :  «  After  I  heard  of  the 
revival  in  College,  I  felt  particularly  anxious  and  prayerful  that  he 
might  be  one  of  those  inquiring  the  way  to  be  saved.  I  wrote  to  him 
requesting  to  know  if  he  was,  and  if  so,  beseeching  him  not  to  cease 
wrestling  with  God  day  and  night,  until  he  had  obtained  the  pardon 
of  his  sins.  If  God  has  heard  and  answered  my  feeble  prayers  with 
respect  to  him,  I  pray  that  I  may  be  more  earnest  and  faithful  in 
future  for  the  conversion  of  those  of  my  dear  family  who  are  out  of 
the  ark  of  safety.' 

"It  is  an  interesting  fact,  that  the  letter  referred  to  above  was 
received  by  the  son  of  this  mother  just  at  the  time  when,  after  a  con 
siderable  period  of  anxiety,  he  had  about  concluded  to  give  up  the 
subject  in  despair.  The  effect  was  to  deepen  his  anxiety,  and  soon 


172  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

after  he  found  relief.  Will  any  Christian  regard  all  this  as  mere 
accident,  and  that  the  providence  of  God  had  nothing  to  do  with  it  ? 

"  The  father  of  another  hopeful  convert  says  :  «  When  we  came  to 

,  last  May,  there  was  some  special  attention  to  religion  in  the 

village,  and  some  things  encouraged  us  to  hope  that  our  son  might 
become  a  subject  of  it.  But  as  he  did  not,  we,  perhaps,  felt  more  than 
usual  anxiety  for  him.  Late  in  the  autumn  we  perceived  that  he  read 
his  Bible  more  than  usual,  and  was  more  attentive  to  religious  means. 
As  might  be  expected  under  such  circumstances,  we,  I  trust,  felt  an 

increased  anxiety  for  him.  I  think  that  Mrs. has  for  a  long 

time  been  deeply  and  prayerfully  anxious  for  him.  But  in  stating 
this  fact,  we  feel  that  we  have  cause  to  be  humbled  in  the  dust,  and  so 
far  as  instrumentality  is  concerned,  we  have  to  look  away  from  our 
selves.' 

"  A  brother-in-law  of  another  individual  makes  the  following  state 
ment  :  '  My  wife,  and  a  pious  sister  of  hers,  have  for  some  months 
past  observed  one  day  each  week  to  pray  for  their  brother  and  the 

other  impenitent  members  of  the  family.  Our  sister  saw  

about  the  time  he  returned  to  College,  and  conversed  with  him  about 
his  soul.  She  has  felt  much  for  him  of  late.  My  wife  cannot  say  that 
she  had  been  more  deeply  anxious  for  him  than  usual,  until  she  heard 
of  the  unusual  religious  interest  in  College.  As  to  myself,  as  the 
season  of  special  prayer  for  the  colleges  returned,  I  thought  and  felt 
more  on  the  subject,  and  my  thoughts  were  specially  turned  towards 

Amherst.  On  the  Fast  day  for  colleges,  I  wrote  to  and  his 

room-mate,  and  have  had  greater  desires  for  their  conversion  since. 
This  was  before  I  heard  of  their  being  interested,  or  of  any  special 
interest  in  College.  I  will  send  on  your  letter  to  our  parents.  I  can 

assure  you  that has  not  been  forgotten  there.  He  has  from  his 

birth  been  a  child  of  many  prayers,  and  was  no  less  given  to  the  Lord 
than  was  Samuel  of  old.' 

"  Another  father  writes  as  follows  :  '  As  parents  who  have  entered 
into  solemn  covenant  with  our  heavenly  Father,  I  trust  we  have  at  no 
time  since  we  dedicated  our  son  to  God  in  baptism,  been  wholly  indif 
ferent  to  his  spiritual  and  eternal  welfare.  But  it  is  still  true  that  our 
solicitude  and  prayers  respecting  him  have  not  always  been  character 
ized  by  that  degree  of  feeling  and  interest  which  pious  parents  are  ever 
bound  to  cherish  towards  their  offspring.  Yet  it  is  due  to  Divine 
Grace  to  state,  that  some  time  previous  to  our  knowledge  of  any 
seriousness  in  the  College,  or  on  the  mind  of  our  son,  our  anxiety  had 
been  greatly  increased  respecting  him. 


AGENCY  OP  PARENTS.  173 

11  « When  my  companion  has  endeavored  to  plead  for  him  at  the 
Throne  of  Grace,  before  she  was  aware  that  his  mind  had  been  turned 
to  the  subject  of  religion,  she  has  been  forbidden  utterance  in  her 
prayers,  and  could  only  weep  for  him.' 

"  A  widowed  mother  makes  the  following  statement :  '  A  week  or 
two  before  the  College  Fast,  my  son  dropped  a  word  which  led  me  to 
fear  that  he  was  somewhat  inclined  to  favor  the  doctrine  that  man  is 
not  totally  depraved.  This  was  a  trouble  to  me,,  and  led  me,  I  think, 
to  some  degree  of  fervor  in  prayer,  that  the  Holy  Spirit  would  con 
vince  him  that  he  was  altogether  alienated  from  God.  Perhaps  I  may 
say  that  from  that  time  my  anxiety  for  him  increased,  until  at  length 
his  salvation  was  almost  the  only  subject  of  my  thoughts  and  prayers, 
by  day  and  by  night.  I  seemed  to  feel  as  if  his  conversion  depended 
on  my  faith  and  fervor  in  prayer.  I  have  had  a  deep  sense  of  my  own 
unfaithfulness;  and  often  have  said,  "  Lord  I  am  not  worthy  that  thou 
should  come  under  my  roof :  but  yet  I  cannot  let  thee  go  except  thou 
bless  me."  Finally,  it  seemed  to  me  that  I  had  never  consecrated 
my  son  entirely  to  God,  and  had  never  been  willing  He  should  dispose 
of  him  as  He  saw  fit  to  promote  His  glory,  and  therefore  I  must  not 
expect  he  would  be  brought  into  the  fold.  This  conclusion  increased 
my  anguish,  until  at  length  I  think  I  was  enabled  to  say, — here,  Lord, 
take  my  son — my  only  son — take  all  my  children,  and  send  them  to 
the  remotest  corner  of  the  earth ;  only  glorify  thy  name  in  their  salva 
tion  and  receive  them  to  thyself  at  last.' 

•«  Any  one  who  saw,  as  I  did,  the  overpowering  emotions  awakened 
in  that  mother's  heart  by  the  intelligence  that  light  and  peace  had 
begun  to  dawn  upon  the  mind  of  her  son,  would  not  doubt  that  the 
above  language  was  a  true  index  of  her  heart. 

"The  following  letter  from  a  widowed  mother  brings  before  us  an 
interesting  chapter  in  the  dying  exercises  of  an  eminently  devoted 
Christian  father,  well  known  and  deeply  lamented  by  the  churches. 

"  « For  some  weeks  before  Mr. 's  death,  his  desires  for 's 

conversion  were  unusually  strong,  and  his  prayers  were  exceedingly 
importunate  in  his  behalf.  It  seemed  as  if  he  could  not  be  denied.  I 
recollect  that  when  I  told  my  cook,  who  is  a  godly  woman,  that  we 
hoped had  experienced  religion,  she  replied,  with  tears,  "I  ex 
pected  he  would  be  converted ;  for  I  never  heard  such  prayers  as  his 
father  offered  for  him  just  before  he  died."  Indeed,  I  think  he  had 
faith  to  believe  that  he  would  become  a  Christian ;  for,  when  speaking 
of  our  library,  he  remarked,  "  you  had  better  keep  the  theological  and 

religious  books  for .  I  hope  he  will  be  a  minister  and  will 

want  them."  After  the  death  of  my  husband,  I  think  my  r-  *'  '-^s 


174  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

for were  deep  and  fervent,  particularly  at  the  funeral,  when  I 

leaned  upon  his  arm,  and  with  a  bursting  heart  cried  unto  God,  "  O 
that  this  child  might  live  before  thee  ! "  and  during  the  winter  I  had 
many  deep  exercises  on  his  account.  During  his  vacation,  I  said  to 
him,  "  what  do  you  expect  to  do  when  you  come  out  of  College  ?  "  and 
he  replied,  "  I  prefer  above  all  things  to  be  a  minister ;  but  you  know  I 
cannot  be  unless  I  am  a  Christian."  From  that  time  I  felt  that  I  must 
cry  mightily  unto  God  in  his  behalf,  and  engaged  several  Christian 
friends  to  unite  with  me  in  prayer  for  him.  And  I  think  I  was 
enabled  to  make  a  more  entire  consecration  of  him  to  God  than  I  ever 
did  before ;  and  when  the  day  of  prayer  (for  the  colleges)  came, 
although  I  attended  no  meeting,  yet  I  appropriated  the  day  as  much 
to  prayer  as  possible.  Of  course  Amherst  and  my  fatherless  boy  were 
much  on  my  mind.  So  that  when  for  several  weeks  I  heard  nothing 
from  him,  which  was  very  unusual,  I  remarked  to  my  sister  that  I  was 
persuaded  there  was  something  on  his  mind.  She  replied  that  she  had 
the  same  feeling,  although  neither  of  us  had  heard  that  there  was  any 
unusual  feeling  on  the  subject  of  religion  in  College.  I  think  much 
prayer  was  offered  for  him  from  the  time  of  his  father's  death,  for  he 
had  many  friends.' 

"  This  statement  suggests  many  inquiries  of  deep  interest ;  but  there 
is  one  which  I  cannot  pass  unnoticed.  What  suggested  to  that  mother 
and  her  sister  the  idea,  or  rather  the  confident  belief,  that  a  revival  of 
religion  existed  in  the  College,  before  they  had  received  any  intimation 
of  it  through  the  ordinary  channels  of  information  ?  It  was  accidental, 
says  one.  It  grew  out  of  the  fact,  says  another,  that  their  minds  were 
upon  this  subject.  But  how  came  their  minds  to  be  upon  it  ?  Did 
not  the  same  Infinite  Spirit,  who  operated  upon  the  minds  of  the  sons, 
excite  the  desires  and  expectations  of  Christian  parents  for  their  con 
version  ?  Mysterious  and  even  absurd  though  such  a  doctrine  may 
seem  to  many,  yet  does  it  not  accord  with  the  familiar  experience  of 
devoted  Christians  ?  It  is  a  law  of  God's  moral  kingdom  that  he  must 
be  inquired  of  before  he  grants  any  great  blessing  ;  and  hence  he  stirs 
up  those  who  need  it  to  pray  for  it  beforehand. 

"  The  following  extract  is  a  part  of  the  reply  of  the  same  widowed 
mother  to  the  letter  of  her  son,  communicating  the  glad  news  of  a 
change  in  his  religious  feelings. 

"  « Your  letter  reached  me  yesterday  ;  and  I  need  not  attempt  to  tell 
you  the  feelings  it  awakened  in  my  desolate  heart,  so  long  a  stranger 
to  joy. 

"  'To  learn  from  your  own  pen  that  you  arc  happy  in  a  forgiving 
Redeemer,  and  in  trying  to  do  good  to  others,  is  enough  to  rejoice  the 


PARENTAL   FIDELITY.  175 

heart  and  wake  up  the  gratitude  of  any  Christian  mother.  But  when 
that  mother  is  made  to  sit  solitary,  and  her  older  sons  are  far  removed 
from  her,  and  she  looks  to  one  as  the  support  of  her  declining  years, 
as  her  protector  and  guide,  "  When  the  strong  men  shall  bow  them 
selves,  and  they  that  look  out  of  the  windows  shall  be  darkened,"  what 
must  her  joy  be  when  that  one  has  passed  from  death  unto  life,  and  a 
new  song  is  put  into  his  mouth  ?  When  that  one,  endeared  by  all  the 
ties  and  sympathies  of  natural  love,  has  become  doubly  dear  by  the 
ties  of  Christian  affection  and  sympathy,  and  the  hopes  of  eternal  life ! ' 

"  I  cannot  but  think  it  will  be  interesting,  since  I  have  the  opportu 
nity,  to  present  one  or  two  examples  of  the  importunate  earnestness 
and  fidelity  with  which  the  parents  and  friends  of  the  converts  in  this 
revival  urged  the  subject  of  religion  upon  them,  before  they  knew  of 
the  existence  of  such  a  work.  The  first  extract  is  addressed  to  a 
brother-in-law  and  his  room-mate. 

"  « This  is  the  day  set  apart  to  pray  for  colleges,  and  we  cannot  but 
remember  you.  We  hope  that,  while  others  are  praying  for  you,  you 
will  not  forget  to  pray  for  yourselves.  I  am  anxious  that  you  and 
your  room-mate  should,  this  term,  come  out  on  the  Lord's  side.  You 
have  already  lived  long  enough  for  yourselves.  God  has  a  claim  upon 
your  hearts ;  and  you  ought  not  to  disregard  that  claim  for  a  single 
day.  Both  of  you  have  had  many  prayers  offered  for  you.  But  this 
will  avail  you  nothing  unless  you  pray  for  yourselves.  It  will  only 
make  your  case  worse.  It  will  be  an  awful  thing,  after  having  been 
dedicated  to  God  by  pious  parents,  after  having  had  so  many  warnings, 
and  so  much  religious  instruction,  and  been  the  subject  of  so  many 
prayers,  to  be  finally  lost.' 

"The  following  is  from  a  devoted  mother:  'You,  my  dear  son, 
are  never  forgotten  when  we  bow  before  our  heavenly  Father  in 
prayer ;  and  can  it  be  that  you  alone  are  careless  about  that  precious 
soul,  for  which  so  many  are  praying  daily,  and  I  might  almost  say 
hourly,  with  strong  crying  and  tears  ? — O,  my  son,  my  son  !  I  entreat 
you,  think  of  the  love  and  care  you  are  slighting.  You  have  often 
read  that  the  great  Jehovah  has  said,  "  My  spirit  shall  not  always  strive 
with  man,"  and  you  know  that  now  is  the  time,  and  that  your  life  is  at 
best  a  vapor  that  passeth  away.  O,  then,  awake  thou  that  sleepest, 
and  think,  O  think  on  these  things  while  you  are  in  health,  and  have 
your  reason,  and  can  reflect  with  calmness  on  the  state  of  your  soul. 
What  folly,  my  child,  to  defer  in  this  thing  ?  You  had  better  let  every 
thing  else  go — your  studies,  your  school,  and  every  thing  besides, 
rather  than  be  found  trifling  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  saying,  when 
I  have  a  convenient  season  I  will  call  for  thee.  "  But  I  am  young  yet, 


176  REMINISCENCES   OF  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

and  am  looking  forward  to  a  long  life,"  you  may  be  tempted  to  say. 
O,  you  feel  this  to  be  folly  and  presumption,  I  know.  You  cannot 
forget  that  four  of  our  number  have  been  taken  much  younger  than 
you,  and  laid  in  their  graves,  one  after  another ;  and  how  often  we 
see  those  in  the  bloom  of  youth  cut  down,  and  called  to  their  last 
account,  and  that  too  all  unprepared,  as  you  are  now.  I  fear  you  are 
thinking  that  God  is  gracious,  and  you  have  many  friends  praying  for 
you,  and  you  shall  not  be  called  away  unprepared ;  but,  my  son,  these 
prayers  will  never  save  you,  unless  you  fall  in  with,  and  cherish  the 
influences  of  the  Spirit,  who  would  teach  you  and  lead  you  into  all 
truth.  But,  O,  the  fearful  condemnation  of  one  who  was  taught  in 
his  earliest  childhood  the  truths  of  the  Bible,  and  in  a  measure  the 
worth  of  the  soul.  And  that  is  not  all ;  the  Spirit  has  often  disturbed 
your  peace,  and  you  have  often  resolved  that  you  would  attend  to 
these  things ;  and  now,  if  you  are  getting  more  and  more  careless, 
what  reason  have  you  to  tremble  and  resolve  in  earnest  that  you  will 
begin  immediately  to  seek  salvation.  Begin  now,  then,  my  child ;  I 
charge  you  to  begin  now  ;  do  not  lay  down  this  sheet  until  you  raise 
your  heart  to  God,  and  beg  him  to  forgive  your  sins,  and  help  you  to 
go  forward  immediately  in  this  great  business.' 

"Mark,  now,  the  change  in  that  mother's  language,  when  she  had 
heard  of  the  change  in  her  son's  feelings. 

"  '  My  dear,  dear  son,  I  never  before  found  the  task  so  difficult  as 
to  begin  to  express  my  feelings  to  you.  I  find  no  words  in  our  lan 
guage  to  express  a  poor,  unworthy  mother's  feelings  on  such  an  occa 
sion  as  this.  It  seems  to  me  that  I  may  well  shout  Grace  !  Grace  ! 

Free  Grace  and  Redeeming  Love  !  O ,  is  it  so  ?  Do  you  love 

the  Lord  Jesus,  that  precious  Saviour,  who  suffered  and  died  to  save 
a  lost  world  ?  That  Saviour  who  has  been  to  you  as  a  root  out  of 
dry  ground.  If  you  have,  indeed,  at  length  seen  him  to  be  the  chiefcst 
among  ten  thousand,  and  one  altogether  lovely,  well  may  your  mother 
join  in  the  transports  of  those  who  surround  the  Throne  of  God  and 
the  Lamb,  and  ascribe  glory  to  God  in  the  highest.  Sure  I  am  that  I 
do  desire  to  call  on  my  soul  and  all  that  is  within  me  to  bless  His  holy 
name.  But  I  cannot  praise  him  as  I  ought.  O,  I  want  to  lie  in  the 
dust  and  be  ashamed  of  my  wicked  fears  and  unbelief  in  years  past. 
I  have  feared  that,  for  my  unfaithfulness,  my  unconverted  children 
might  all  be  lost  forever  ;  but  I  feel  now  that  God  has  not  laid  judg 
ment  to  the  line  and  righteousness  to  the  plummet ;  but  has  graciously 
heard  and  answered  the  prayers  of  poor,  sinful,  hell- deserving  crea 
tures,  and  has  loved  to  glorify  his  Son  by  answering  the  many  prayers 


PREACHING.  177 

that  have  been  offered  in  His  name,  although  they  came  from  the  lips 
of  those  who  have  so  wickedly  offended  Him.' 

"  What  eloquence  there  is  in  a  Christian  mother's  heart !  and  could 
more  of  her  earnestness  and  fidelity  be  infused  into  the  discourses  of 
those  of  us  who  profess  to  preach  the  Gospel,  what  unction  and 
power,  would  be  imparted  to  them." 

To  the  examples  given  above  of  a  connection  between  the 
prayers  and  exhortations  of  parents  and  their  sons,  I  am  con 
strained  to  add  another  that  was  forced  upon  my  attention. 
During  one  of  our  revivals  the  son  of  a  missionary  residing  at 
a  distance  of  10,000  miles  was  awakened,  and  lingering  for 
weeks  in  a  state  of  indecision,  I  began  greatly  to  fear  was 
losing  his  impressions.  At  that  critical  moment  he  received 
a  very  faithful  letter  from  his  father,  who,  knowing  the  young 
man's  character  and  temperament,  could  aim  his  arrows  at 
vulnerable  points.  And  though  it  was  death  to  rebellious 
nature,  it  was  life  from  the  dead  to  the  new  creature.  All 
this,  some  will  say,  was  accidental.  But  that  is  a  term  I  do 
not  admit  into  my  vocabulary  when  I  am  contemplating  the 

plans  of  an  Infinite  God.  Rev.  Dr. (for  this  youth 

is  now  a  Doctor  of  Divinity)  may  not  be  aware  that,  next  to 
God,  he  is  indebted  for  his  conversion  to  his  venerable 
father ;  but  when  he  shall  meet  him  on  Mount  Zion  I  think 
he  will  see  in  the  transparencies  of  heaven  the  chain  of  influ 
ence  that  reached  half  round  the  globe  and  was  hooked  into 
his  nose  just  at  the  right  moment. 

The  grand  instrumentality  on  which  we  have  always 
depended  to  originate  and  carry  forward  revivals,  has  been  the 
earnest  and  faithful  presentation  of  the  peculiar  doctrines  of 
the  Gospel  in  the  pulpit,  in  the  prayer-meeting,  and  to  the 
individual  conscience.  We  have  always  found  this  mighty 
through  God  to  the  pulling  down  of  strongholds.  Believing 
fully  ourselves  in  the  entire  natural  alienation  of  man  from 
God,  and  in  the  necessity  of  a  renovation  of  his  nature  by  the 
special  agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  we  have  urged  these  truths 
as  earnestly  as  we  could  upon  all.  Some  would  call  this 


178  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

sectarianism ;  but  we  have  gloried  in  such  sectarianism ; 
for  to  maintain  it  Amhcrst  College  was  founded,  and  if 
ever  the  time  comes  when  these  doctrines  shall  cease  to 
be  rung  out  boldly  from  the  College  pulpit,  "  Ichabod "  may 
well  be  inscribed  upon  it.  Oh !  with  what  power  have  I  heard 
these  truths  proclaimed  there  by  such  men  as  Humphrey,  and 
Fiske,  and  Tyler,  and  how  distinctly  couljl  the  ticking  of  the 
clock  be  heard  all  over  the  chapel  while  they  reasoned  of 
temperance  and  righteousness  and  judgment  to  come.  It  is 
probably  possible  to  get  up  some  kind  of  excitement  and  call 
it  a  revival  where  these  truths  are  ignored,  but  those  who 
founded  and  those  who  sustain  Amherst  College  do  not  believe 
that  any  but  spurious  conversions  can  be  the  result. 

It  has  been  sometimes  a  difficult  question  to  decide  in  time 
of  revival,  first,  how  many  meetings  should  be  held,  and 
secondly,  how  many  of  them  should  be  regular  preaching 
meetings  and  how  many  devoted  to  prayers  and  brief,  off  hand 
exhortations.  If  the  meetings  are  so  numerous  that  the  feel 
ing  cannot  sustain  them,  and  Christians  attend  more  from  a 
sense  of  duty  than  from  strong  desire,  they  deaden  rather  than 
advance  the  revival.  It  is  always  better  that  there  should  be 
an  appetite  for  more  meetings  rather  than  a  secret  desire 
among  Christians  that  there  should  be  less.  Ardent  young 
men  also  often  prefer  meetings  where  glowing  exhortations 
and  impassioned  prayers  greatly  stir  up  the  feelings.  But  I 
think  I  have  several  times  seen  the  religious  sensibilities  in 
that  way  early  exhausted  beyond  resuscitation,  and  also  hopes 
ncquired  in  such  circumstances  that  did  not  wear  well.  Plain, 
systematic  preaching,  although  less  popular,  I  am  inclined 
generally  to  prefer,  in  order  to  counteract  these  evils.  The 
solid  truths  of  the  Bible  brought  in  this  way  to  bear  upon  the 
conscience,  operate  as  a  regulator  to  keep  the  machinery  steady 
and  to  prolong  the  revival. 

Inquiry  meetings  we  have  ever  found  eminently  useful. 
And  they  Avere  more  useful,  I  think,  when  held  in  a  private 
room  rather  than  a  large  lecture  room  of  the  College.  Hence 


PREACHING.  179 

I  used,  as  long  as  the  numbers  did  not  forbid,  to  hold  them  in 
a  student's  room  or  my  own  study.  I  think  such  meetings  are 
far  better  in  their  influence  than  to  call  upon  the  anxious  in 
their  own  rooms  or  to  invite  them  to  the  pastor's  study,  one  by 
one.  For  one  of  the  chief  dangers  of  conversing  with  inquirers 
is  that  we  shall  say  too  much.  The  great  object  of  conversing 
with  them  is  to  lead  them  at  once  to  submit  to  God,  and  until 
this  takes  place  it  is  dangerous  to  lighten  the  burden  that  is 
upon  their  spirits,  as  we  shall  be  apt  to  do  if  we  converse  long 
with  them,  and  especially  if  our  remarks  produce  weeping. 

Soon  after  I  began  to  preach  I  had  an  instructive  lesson  on 
this  subject.  I  spent  a  Sabbath  at  the  house  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Porter  at  Farmington,  in  Connecticut,  when  one  of  the  most 
powerful  revivals  ever  known  in  this  country  had  nearly  reached 
its  culmination.  There  I  met  with  Dr.  Asahel  Nettleton,  the 
man  who  of  all  I  have  ever  known  had  the  most  wisdom  and 
skill  in  conducting  revivals.  He  had  preached  Sabbath  even 
ing  and  made  an  extraordinary  impression,  and  while  sitting 
with  him  the  next  morning  in  Dr.  Porter's  parlor,  a  gentleman 
in  middle  life,  one  of  the  Doctor's  parishioners,  came  in,  bear 
ing  in  his  countenance  the  marks  of  extreme  anxiety.  Doctor 
Porter  invited  him  into  his  study,  where  he  had  not  been  more 
than  ten  minutes  when  I  perceived  that  Dr.  Nettleton  was 
uneasy,  and  on  Mrs.  Porter's  coming  into  the  room  he  said, 
"  Cannot  you  contrive  to  get  your  husband  out  of  his  study  ;  I 
fear  he  is  injuring  that  man."  He  then  proceeded  to  make 
such  remarks  on  the  subject  as  proved  of  great  service  to  me 
in  subsequent  life. 

Where  the  pulpit  is  supplied  by  the  officers  in  succession, 
college  revivals  are  apt  to  suffer  from  a  want  of  unity  and 
adaptedness  in  the  preaching.  Those  familiar  with  revivals 
know  that  they  have  certain  stages  of  progress,  and  that  if  the 
preaching  is  not  adapted  to  the  particular  phase  the  work  has 
assumed,  it  will  do  little  good,  and  may  do  much  hurt.  It 
often  happens  that  college  officers  have  not  had  much  if  any 
experience  in  revivals,  and  imagine  that  the  presentation  of 


180  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

any  great  and  solemn  truth  during  such  a  season  will  be 
appropriate.  Some  of  them,  too,  are  afraid  to  trust  them 
selves  in  extemporaneous  preaching,  and  must  hence  choose  a 
written  sermon  from  the  small  stock  perhaps  on  hand ;  and  it 
may  be  finely  prepared  and  delivered,  and  well  fitted  for  any 
other  time,  but  quite  unadapted  to  a  revival.  A  check  is  thus 
put  to  the  work  which  often  requires  great  effort  on  the  part 
of  the  experienced  pastor  to  counteract. 

Dr.  Nettleton  had  peculiar  sensitiveness  on  this  point,  and 
believed  that  the  best  of  preachers  would  make  sad  blunders 
in  this  matter  unless  he  had  for  some  time  participated  in  the 
work,  so  as  to  know  what  nails  needed  to  be  driven  and 
clenched  at  a  particular  time.  I  have  heard  an  anecdote,  from 
such  authority  that  I  can  hardly  question  its  truth,  concerning 
him  and  Dr.  Lyman  Be'echer,  who  was  his  particular  friend 
and  one  of  the  ablest  revival  preachers  in  the  land.  A  revival 
had  been  going  on  in  New  Haven  for  a  fortnight,  in  which  Mr. 
Nettletoii  had  been  laboring.  But  one  evening  when  the 
middle  church  was  filled  with  hearers,  Dr.  Beecher  arrived 
late  in  town  and  was  persuaded  to  preach  before  he  had  learnt 
the  exact  state  of  the  revival.  At  the  close  of  the  service  Mr. 
Nettleton  met  him  at  the  bottom  of  the  pulpit  stairs  and  put 
the  question,  "  Do  you  know  what  you  have  been  doing 
tin's  evening ?  "  "I  have  been  trying  to  preach  the  Gospel," 
was  the  Doctor's  reply.  "  You  have  put  back  this  revival  a 
fortnight,"  was  the  rejoinder. 

Not  unfrequently,  as  every  experienced  pastor  knows,  a 
good  deal  of  religious  interest  may  exist  in  a  church  for  a  long 
time,  and  yet  it  seems  doubtful  whether  a  revival  will  be  the 
result.  It  seems  to  need  some  startling  event  to  give  a  religious 
influence  the  predominence  and  awaken  the  unconverted — -just 
as  a  salt  dissolved  in  a  menstruum  even  to  saturation  will  not 
begin  to  crystalize  till  a  nucleus  is  thrown  in.  This  decisive 
event  may  be  some  startling  Providence  or  some  unusual 
development  of  wickedness.  I  have  given  a  curious  example 


THE   POWDER   PLOT.  181 

of  the  latter  in  my  Valedictory  Address  on  leaving  the   Presi 
dency,  which  I  here  quote. 

"There  was  one  scene  of  a  very  peculiar  character,  which  I  always 
supposed  was  decidedly  instrumental  in  bringing  on  one  of  these 
revivals,  that  I  ought,  perhaps,  to  rescue  from  oblivion.  Every  one 
conversant  with  seasons  of  special  religious  interest,  knows  that  often 
it  seems  long  uncertain  what  will  be  the  result  of  an  awakened  state 
of  feeling  in  respect  to  spiritual  things,  until,  at  length,  some  slight 
circumstance  turns  the  scale  one  way  or  the  other.  In  1835,  when  I 
acted  as  the  locum  tcnens  of  Dr.  Humphrey,  who  was  absent  in 
Europe,  we  were  in  this  state  of  awakened  interest  and  anxious 
expectation.  The  non-professors  of  religion  in  College,  actuated  I 
know  not  by  what  motives,  had  invited  Mr.  Burgess,  then  tutor  and 
now  missionary  in  India,  to  conduct  a  weekly  religious  meeting  for 
them  alone.  He  occasionally  invited  other  members  of  the  Faculty 
to  assist  him  at  these  meetings.  I  was  making  some  remarks  at  one 
of  them,  when  suddenly  a  train  of  gunpowder,  laid  all  around  the 
room,  and  which  must  have  contained  some  pounds,  exploded,  filling 
the  upper  part  of  the  room  with  smoke  too  dense  to  breathe  in.  Per 
haps  it  was  providential  that  one  was  conducting  the  meeting  who 
had  for  nearly  ten  years  been  familiar  with  all  sorts  of  detonations  in 
a  chemical  laboratory,  and  who  was  not,  therefore,  greatly  disturbed 
by  this  new  example.  Recollecting  that  the  opposite  room,  now  the 
Zoological  Cabinet,  where  I  was  daily  lecturing,  was  filled  up  with 
seats,  I  invited  my  auditors  to  repair  thither,  and  we  finished  the 
meeting,  which,  as  may  well  be  imagined,  became  at  its  close  intensely 
solemn.  It  was  the  decisive  blow  that  ushered  in  the  revival,  although 
intended  to  put  it  down,  by  Satan,  its  instigator.  I  well  recollect 
that  at  the  time  of  the  occurrence,  I  felt  almost  sure  that  a  revival 
would  follow  such  unwise  over-acting  on  his  part.  It  was  so  ;  and  I 
may  add,  that  the  unfortunate  young  man,  who  set  fire  to  the  train, 
till  then  of  unblemished  character,  was  in  less  than  an  hour  brought 
before  the  Faculty,  who  had  no  alternative  but  to  inflict  the  highest 
college  censure  upon  him." 

In  my  published  account  of  the  revival  of  1850  I  have  given 
an  example  where  the  case  was  decided  by  the  concentration 
about  the  Annual  Concert  of  Prayer  for  Colleges  of  several 
startling  events.  For  this  reason  and  some  others,  I  introduce 
the  whole  of  that  account  as  given  in  several  papers. 


182  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

"  REVIVAL  IN  AMHERST  COLLEGE. — Gratitude  to  Divine  Grace,  as 
well  as  a  sense  of  obligation  to  the  friends  of  Amherst  College, 
seem  to  demand  a  brief  statement  respecting  the  spiritual  blessings 
it  has  recently  experienced,  in  connection  with  severe  temporal 
judgments. 

"During  the  two  years  past,  (1849  and  1850,)  a  good  deal  of  special 
religious  interest  was  exhibited  in  the  Institution,  for  a  portion  of 
the  year.  The  influence  of  these  seasons  was  very  happy  upon 
Christians,  and  a  few  interesting  cases  of  conversion  occurred.  And 
did  the  church  realize  the  immense  importance  of  such  seasons  in 
our  literary  institutions,  they  would  feel  as  if  they  were  a  rich 
answer  to  their  prayers,  even  though  such  seasons  be  not  technically 
called  revivals. 

"LBut  the  displays  of  Divine  Grace  during  the  term  just  closing, 
have  been  far  greater ;  and  may  justly  be  regarded  as  the  ninth 
marked  and  powerful  revival  of  religion  since  1823,  when  the  first 
occurred  under  the  Presidency  of  Dr.  Moore. 

' '  At  the  beginning  of  the  term,  there  were  a  few  who  felt  an  unusual 
spirit  of  prayer,  and  very  strong  desires  to  see  a  work  of  the  Lord. 
And  they  labored  and  prayed  for  weeks  without  much  encourage 
ment,  though  some  were  awakened,  and  one  or  two  hopefully  con 
verted.  But  next  came  the  heavy  judgments  of  God.  The  Fast 
Day  for  literary  institutions,  in  February,  is  always  a  solemn  day ; 
but  this  year  it  was  more  solemn  than  ever  before.  A  beloved 
instructor  (Professor  Peabody)  who  had  just  joined  us,  and  given 
rich  promise  of  great  usefulness,  was  suddenly  cut  down  and  lay 
dead  in  our  midst,  on  that  day.  An  unusual  number  of  the  members 
of  College,  also,  about  that  time,  received  accounts  of  the  death,  or 
the  conversion  of  friends  at  home.  In  two  instances,  those  who 
died  were  recently  members  of  College,  and  were  among  the  few 
who  were  hopefully  converted  during  the  special  attention  of  the 
two  last  years.  The  death  of  a  venerable  Trustee  and  benefactor 
of  the  institution,  (Gov.  Armstrong,)  was  among  the  announcements 
that  came  upon  us  with  a  startling  effect.  Indeed  we  do  not  recol 
lect,  ever  before,  forming  a  part  of  a  community  on  which  there 
were  concentrated  and  reiterated,  such  powerful  appeals  to  repent 
ance.  But  on  looking  round,  it  seemed  for  a  time  as  if  they  were 
all  likely  to  fail  of  a  converting  effect,  and  as  if  no  revival  would 
follow.  Then  it  was,  however,  when  we  had  been  taught  the  pow- 
erlessness  even  of  such  means,  to  convert  the  soul,  that  we  were 
made  to  see  how  easily,  by  a  mere  breath  of  Divine  efficiency,  it 
might  be  done.  The  work,  silently,  though  not  very  rapidly, 


REVIVAL.  183 

advanced,  till  there  were  very  few  who  did  not  acknowledge  its 
influence,  though  many  resisted  it. 

"  Of  the  present  members  of  College,  amounting  to  179,  106  are 
professors  of  religion ;  of  the  others,  as  many  as  30  indulge  hopes 
of  having  been  converted  during  this  revival,  besides  a  few  con 
nected  with  the  families  who  worship  in  the  College  Chapel.  Abso 
lutely,  this  number  is  not  very  large,  but  relatively,  it  is,  we  believe, 
fully  equal  to  any  revival  we  have  ever  enjoyed.  How  many  of 
them  will  endure  to  the  end,  God  only  knows,  and  on  his  help  hang 
our  hopes  of  the  perseverance  of  any. 

"We  subjoin  a  few  remarks  that  may  give  a  more  definite  idea  of 
this  work  of  grace. 

"I.  It  was  the  object  of  long  continued,  earnest  prayer  and  per 
severing  effort.  We  have  never  in  College  witnessed  a  more  ago 
nizing  spirit  of  prayer,  nor  more  consistent,  persevering  efforts  on 
the  part  of  some,  than  for  six  or  seven  weeks  before  the  full  answer 
came.  This  was  our  strongest  ground  of  hope,  for  it  seemed  con 
trary  to  the  analogy  of  God's  Providence  that  he  should  not  answer 
such  prayer. 

"  II.  We  have  never  known  the  character,  offices,  and  work  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  so  much  dwelt  upon  in  any  revival,  in  the  preaching, 
as  in  this.  As  the  officers  supplied  the  pulpit  in  rotation,  this  was 
not  the  result  of  a  preconcerted  plan,  but  the  spontaneous  impulse 
of  the  heart.  Yet  we  must  believe  that  it  had  some  connection  with 
the  result,  for  them  that  honor  me,  says  God,  I  will  honor. 

"  III.  The  work  had  its  peculiar  type  or  character.  We  never 
witnessed  a  revival  that  had  not,  and  we  are  satisfied  that  one  most 
important  point  for  the  pastor  of  a  church  in  the  beginning  of  a 
revival,  is,  to  learn  how  God  means  to  carry  on  the  work.  For  the 
want  of  attention  to  this  point,  we  think  not  a  few  revivals  have 
been  blighted  in  the  bud,  either  by  attempting  to  go  before  the  Spirit, 
or  lingering  too  far  behind.  In  this  work  we  noticed  the  following 
facts : — 

"  1.  It  moved  forward  steadily  and  slowly,  and  the  interest  con 
tinued  longer  than  usual.  Indeed,  up  to  this  day,  the  meetings  have 
continued  to  be  crowded  and  solemn,  and  may  it  not  be  hoped  that 
another  term  shall  witness  a  continuance  of  the  work  ? 

"  2.  There  was  no  opposition  to  it.  Nearly  all  seemed  to  be  con 
vinced  of  their  need  of  religion,  and  that  the  present  was  the  most 
favorable  time  for  securing  it,  and  the  grand  point  seemed  to  be,  to 
persuade  them  not  to  delay  acting  according  to  their  convictions. 


184  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

"3.  Fear  of  punishment  seemed  to  have  but  little  influence  in 
producing  conviction.  The  predominant  feeling  among  those 
awakened  was,  that  they  had  no  adequate  sense  of  their  own  ingrat 
itude  and  depravity,  though  in  some  instances  the  sense  of  sin  was 
overpowering. 

"4.  There  was  very  little  of  animal  excitement.  The  studies  of 
College  were  pursued  as  usual,  and  although  the  meetings  were  full 
and  solemn,  there  were  few  outward  signs  of  emotion. 

"o.  Hope  and  comfort  came  in  gradually  for  the  most  part,  and 
did  not  become  strong  and  clear  till  the  individual  had  passed 
through  several  alternations  of  darkness  and  light. 

"  G.  We  may  add,  as  another  peculiarity,  that  the  work  has  extended 
more  or  less  into  the  town  of  Amherst;  although  several  revivals 
have  occurred  in  the  place  since  1823,  we  believe  one  has  never 
before  seemed  to  be  connected  with  a  work  in  the  College,  nor  vice 
versa. 

"  The  guardians  and  instructors  of  the  College  have  reason  to 
rejoice  in  this  new  opportunity  to  testify  to  the  Divine  faithfulness 
and  special  mercy.  The  blessing  has  been  greater  than  their  antic 
ipations  or  their  faith.  They  have  also  occasion  to  be  thankful  to 
the  churches  for  their  fervent  and  effectual  prayers.  Let  them  be 
encouraged  by  what  God  has  done,  to  continue  their  supplications, 
and  let  none  doubt  any  more,  God's  readiness  to  gratify  their  largest 
desires  for  the  advancement  of  his  kingdom." 

The  subject  referred  to  in  the  above  account  of  a  difference 
of  types  in  different  revivals  is  one  of  no  small  importance. 
Sometimes  Christians  are  startled  out  of  their  dreamy  state  by 
finding  impenitent  men  awake  and  pressing  into  the  kingdom. 
Such  revivals  may  be  expected  to  be  short,  and  it  behooves 
preachers  and  private  Christians  to  do  with  their  might  what 
their  hands  find  to  do.  In  another  case  the  church  agonizes  in 
prayer  and  labors  long  before  any  are  awakened,  and  then  the 
cases  are  isolated  and  each  conversion  seems  to  demand  impor 
tunate  and  continued  prayer.  The  labor  is  Sisyphean  from 
beginning  to  end,  yet  the  revival  is  usually  a  protracted  one, 
and  the  converts  are  quite  apt  to  hold  out.  Sometimes  even 
from  the  first  there  is  strong  opposition,  and  ridicule  and  social 
influence  are  vigorously  employed  to  counteract  the  power  of 
truth.  In  such  a  case  it  is  like  sailing  against  wind  and  tide, 


TYPES  OP  REVIVALS.  185 

with  the  white  crested  waves  dashing  over  the  ship.  But  in 
other  cases  no  whisper  of  opposition  is  heard,  and  you  find 
yourself  delightfully  lifted  up  on  a  great  wave  of  influence,  nor 
can  you  tell  when  it  begins  to  subside  till  you  look  out  on  the 
surrounding  waves  and  perceive  that  their  crests  are  getting 
above  you.  In  the  first  case,  when  the  opposition  is  conquered, 
as  it  almost  always  is,  we  may  expect  a  larger  harvest  of  souls 
than  in  the  latter  case,  when  the  wave  of  revival  influence 
subsides  so  soon  and  gently  that  many  who  meant  to  be  saved 
find  themselves  stranded  on  the  shoals  of  self-righteousness  or 
driven  about  in  the  whirlpools  of  error,  till  they  are  borne  into 
the  great  maelstrom  of  infidelity,  from  which  they  never 
escape. 

How  important  now  that  preachers,  and  private  Christians 
also,  should  be  able  to  discern  early  this  variety  of  types  in 
revivals,  that  they  may  modify  their  efforts.  And  especially  in 
college,  where,  from  the  nature  of  young  men  and  the  arrange 
ment  of  terms,  revivals  may  be  expected  to  be  unusually  short. 
The  influences  that  modify  character  are  usually  very  rapid  in 
college.  In  the  four  years  of  the  course  I  reckon  that  charac-  i 
ter  is  changed  as  much  as  in  most  communities  in  thirty  or  // 
forty  years.  Almost  as  much  more  rapid  is  the  progress  of 
revivals  hi  colleges,  so  that  what  we  do  should  be  done  quickly, 
lest  the  golden  opportunity  should  slip  out  of  our  hands. 
Alas !  very  rarely  have  I  been  able  at  the  close  of  a  revival 
to  look  back  upon  it  without  sadness  and  self-reproach,  because 
I  had  not  been  as  diligent  as  I  ought  to  have  been,  nor  improved 
as  I  might  the  precious  opportunity.  I  had  calculated  confi 
dently  upon  the  rescue  of  this  or  that  young  man,  and  perhaps 
had  I  followed  them  up  more  faithfully  they  would  not  have 
resisted  the  truth,  and  after  coming  so  near  to  heaven's  gate 
have  sunk  back  again  into  the  mire  of  the  world.  But  they 
are  out  of  my  reach  now,  and  I  shall  probably  never  have 
another  opportunity  to  warn  them  with  any  hope  of  success. 

As  I  have    already  intimated,  our  revivals    have    differed 
much,  not  only  in  type  but  in  power.     Sometimes  the  power 


186  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

of  sin  seemed  to  be  but  little  crippled,  and  maintained  a  bold 
front  through  the  whole  revival  period,  though  many  individu 
als  bowed  before  the  truth.  The  season  when  the  fewest  con 
verts  were  brought  in  was  in  1860,  when  not  more  than  two 
or  three  conversions  occurred,  though  these  were  of  great 
interest,  and  the  church  was  thoroughly  roused.  Still  it  may 
be  doubtful  whether  this  work  should  be  reckoned  among  the 
marked  revivals  in  the  College.  If  it  is,  I  am  sure  that  there 
have  been  a  large  number  of  similar  seasons  in  the  history  of 
the  College,  when  we  reckoned  more  converts  than  in  1860. 
Indeed  it  is  doubtful  whether  any  year  has  passed  without 
several  conversions,  and  the  occurrence  of  some  awakened 
interest  among  Christians.  It  is  always  difficult  to  get 
through  with  the  scenes  and  influences  of  the  Annual  Fast 
without  some  such  results. 

But  the  revival  of  1858  was  of  a  different  character,  and 
most  probably  exceeded  in  its  subduing  power  any  other  in 
our  whole  history.  This  was  the  year  of  "  the  Great  Awak 
ening  "  throughout  the  land,  and  will  form  one  of  the  brightest 
pages  in  the  history  of  the  American  Church.  I  copy  hen% 
from  Prof.  Tyler's  Prayer  for  Colleges,  the  account  of  this 
revival  in  Amherst  College,  by  President  Stearns,  as  well  as 
a  paragraph  added  by  myself  at  his  request,  all  of  wliich 
appeared  in  the  newspapers:  — 

"  The  religious  community  will  be  interested  to  know  that  in  the 
'  Great  Awakening '  of  the  times,  Amherst  College  has  not  beep 
passed  by  unblessed.  A  wonderful  revival  of  religion  has  just  beei 
experienced  here.  It  commenced  with  the  term  which  has  recently 
closed.  From  small  beginnings,  it  made  gradual  progress,  till  our 
entire  collegiate  community  was  brought  under  its  influence.  "Week 
after  week  « the  little  cloud '  might  be  seen  rising,  spreading,  thicken 
ing,  with  here  and  there  a  few  drops,  and  many  intervening  alterna 
tions  of  hope  and  fear  on  the  part  of  observers,  till,  towards  the  end 
of  the  term,  the  shower  began  to  fall,  and  for  the  last  ten  days  •  the 
great  rain  was  not  stayed.' 

"Nearly  three-quarters  of  our  number  were  previously  professors 
of  religion,  about  twenty  of  them  having  taken  their  stand  publicly 


"THE  GREAT  AWAKENING."  187 

on  the  side  of  Christ  some  months  before.  Of  the  remainder,  between 
forty  and  fifty  have  here  been  hopefully  converted  during  the  term, 
leaving  less  than  twenty  in  the  whole  College  undecided.  Besides 
these,  ten  or  twelve  who  had  once  been  professors,  some  of  them 
giving  little  or  no  evidence  of  piety,  were  awakened  and  converted 
anew,  while  nearly  the  whole  body  of  Christian  students  seemed  to 
receive  a  fresh  baptism  of  the  Spirit. 

"  Of  the  Senior  class,  but  three  or  four  remain  who  have  not 
commenced  the  Christian  life  ;  of  the  Junior  class,  but  one,  and  he  a 
serious  inquirer,  if  not  a  Christian ;  of  the  Sophomore  class,  four  or 
five  ;  of  the  Freshman,  nine  or  ten. 

"  The  work  has  been  characterized  by  quietness  and  decorum.  No 
extraordinary  measures  were  adopted  to  promote  it.  No  additional 
meetings  were  held,  except  short  meetings  for  prayer  in  groups  of 
students  by  themselves,  and  a  general  prayer-meeting,  often  limited  to 
three-quarters  of  an  hour,  in  the  early  part  of  the  evening,  and,  for 
the  last  ten  days  of  the  term,  held  nearly  every  evening  in  the  week. 
Though  these  meetings  were  conducted  on  the  voluntary  principle 
throughout,  in  many  prayers  and  exhortations  offered  by  students  and 
others,  nothing  was  done  or  said,  even  in  a  single  instance,  so  far  as  I 
remember,  to  which  the  most  fastidious  Christian  taste  could  take 
exception.  And  when  the  religious  feeling  was  strongest  and  all- 
pervading,  not  a  single  regular  class  recitation  was  omitted  in  conse 
quence  of  it.  While  there  was  no  appearance  of  extravagance, 
irregular  zeal,  or  enthusiasm,  there  was  manifested  a  deep  sense  of 
sin,  an  entire  giving  up  of  all  hopes  of  self-salvation,  unconditional 
submission  to  a  sovereign  God,  complete  dependence  on  the  Holy 
Spirit,  and  the  affectionate  and  often  joyful  confidence  of  faith  in 
Christ. 

"  The  reformation  of  character  and  manners  was  no  less  remarkable 
than  the  renewal  of  hearts.  College  discipline,  in  the  way  of  restraint 
and  censure,  seemed  to  lose  its  office  ;  order  prevailed,  study  was 
attended  to  as  a  religious  duty  ;  sacred  psalms  took  the  place  of  ques 
tionable  songs,  and  social  revelries  gave  way  to  heavenly  friendships. 
Many  young  men  have  been  hopefully  snatched  from  ruin,  and 
inspired  with  new  feelings  of  self-respect  and  new  and  noble  determi 
nations  for  the  future.  How  they  will  hold  out,  time  must  show. 
Generally,  in  such  cases,  some  fall  back.  But  many  circumstances 
inspire  us  with  unusual  confidence  that  this  unhappy  number  will  be 
small.  The  changes  seem  to  us  like  those  radical  and  permanent 
ones,  of  which,  under  the  power  of  religion,  we  have  seen  so  many. 
We  ask  the  prayers  of  all  Christians.  Brethren,  PKAY  for  us." 


188  REMINISCENCES   OF  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

"  To  this  statement  by  the  pastor  Dr.  Hitchcock  added  the  following 
testimony,  as  the  result  of  his  own  long  observation  and  experience  : 
'  I  have  been  witness  to  all  the  revivals  here  since  the  College  was 
established,  except  the  first  during  Dr.  Moore's  Presidency;  and  I 
must  say,  that  I  do  not  remember  in  any  of  them  such  an  almost 
universal  and  thoroughly  subduing  power  manifested  as  during  the 
last  two  weeks  of  the  term  just  closed.  One  or  two  facts  will  show 
this  to  those  who  are  acquainted  with  college  life.  All  such  know  the 
intense  and  almost  irresistible  desire  of  students  to  start  for  home  at 
the  earliest  possible  momont  of  release  at  the  end  of  a  term.  But 
this  year  nearly  all  remained  over  night  at  the  invitation  of  the  Presi 
dent,  that  they  might  attend  a  parting  religious  meeting,  which  proved 
one  of  intense  interest.  Another  fact  is  new  in  the  religious  history 
of  the  College.  Those  students  who  remain  in  town  during  vacation, 
with  the  officers  and  their  families,  meet  twice  a  week  for  prayer ; 
and  there  is  no  abatement  of  religious  interest.  The  small  number 
of  those  left  unconverted,  much  less  than  in  any  former  revival, 
also  shows  the  thoroughness  of  the  work.'  " 

Could  the  founders  of  this  College  reappear  among  us,— 
some  of  them  still  survive, — how  gratified  would  they  be 
with  such  a  history  of  God's  interposition  in  its  behalf!  Let 
us  now  see  how  successful  the  Institution  has  been  in  accom 
plishing  the  great  object  for  which  it  was  founded,  viz.:  in 
raising  up  Ministers  and  Missionaries. 

3.     MINISTERS. 

The  Triennial  of  1863  contains  the  names  of  1,520  gradu 
ates,  of  whom  610  are  put  down  as  ministers,  including  all 
clerical  missionaries.  But  none  are  called  ministers  on  this 
list  who  have  not  been  licensed  to  preach,  and  have  actually 
entered  upon  the  profession  as  an  exclusive  employment.  Of 
course  those  not  unfrequent  cases  where  graduates  both  teach 
and  preach,  and  those  who  from  providential  hindrances  have 
been  prevented  from  entering  the  ministerial  profession,  are 
not  in  the  list,  nor  is  that  still  larger  number  among  recent 
graduates  who  are  now  in  a  course  of  preparation,  at  a  theo 
logical  seminary  or  elsewhere,  for  the  ministry.  Nay,  all 
these  are  included  among  these  who  have  chosen  other  profes- 


MINISTERS. 


189 


sions  or  no  profession :  whereas  nearly  all  of  them  sought  a 
public  education  for  the  sole  purpose  of  preaching  the  GospeL 
Surely  these  should  all  be  reckoned  among  ministers,  and 
among  those  who  are  accomplishing  the  grand  object  of  the 
Institution;  for  some  of  them  are  probably  more  useful  as 
teachers  and  preachers,  than  they  would  be  simply  as  preach 
ers.  I  have  done  my  best  to  ascertain  the  number  of  these 
clerical  teachers,  and  those  in  preparation  for  the  ministry,  and 
correcting  the  Triennial  by  this  addition,  the  following  list 
will  show  the  number  of  ministers  in  the  several  classes  to 
1860,  although  doubtless  considerably  below  the  truth,  espe 
cially  in  the  more  recent  classes.  For  in  some  instances 
graduates  are  obliged  to  teach  one  or  two  years  after  leaving 
College,  and  do  not  enter  for  some  time  upon  the  study  of  a 
profession. 


TEAK  OP 
GRADUATION. 

Graduates. 

Ministers. 

M 

»S  = 
|II 

YEAR  OF 
GRADUATION. 

Graduates. 

Ministers. 

4 

&* 

|II 

1822, 

3 

1 

1841, 

32 

13 

1823, 

5 

4 

tf(\ 

1842, 

28 

13 

1824, 

20 

14 

DJ 

1843, 

21 

14 

47 

1825, 

25 

12 

1844, 

29 

13 

1826, 

30 

18 

1845, 

30 

13 

1827, 

23 

18 

1846, 

26 

11 

' 

1828, 

40 

23 

65 

1847, 

18 

10 

1829, 

39 

24 

1848, 

30 

15 

47 

1830, 

32 

24 

1849, 

30 

15 

1831, 

60 

32 

1850, 

25 

10 

1832, 

38 

10 

1851, 

41 

15 

1833, 

38 

20 

51 

1852, 

42 

11 

1834, 

39 

20 

1853, 

42 

20 

36 

1835, 

39 

27 

1854, 

37 

12 

1836, 

38 

20 

: 

1855, 

52 

18 

1837, 

51 

35 

1856. 

46 

20 

1838, 

42 

19 

54 

1857; 

43 

25 

1839, 

57 

32 

1858, 

51 

26 

44 

1840, 

44 

20 

1859, 

44 

16 

1860, 

47 

17 

It  appears  from  the  preceding  table  that  the  number  of 
ministers,  and  those  preparing  for  the  ministry,  among  the 


190  REMINISCENCES   OF  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

graduates  up  to  18  60,  amounts  to  700,  which  is  thirteen  more 
than  half  of  all  the  graduates :  and  hence  we  are  able  to  say 
that  thus  far  more  than  half  our  graduates  have  sought  the 
ministerial  profession.  This  is  certainly  a  gratifying  conclusion. 
Yet  I  have  added  a  column  showing  the  average  per  cent,  of 
ministers  for  the  first  four  years,  and  then  for  each  successive 
five  years,  and  it  awakens  some  solicitude,  for  it  shows  that 
the  proportion  of  such  which  was  in  1830  as  high  as  65  per 
cent.,  has  been  gradually  diminishing,  till  in  1855  it  was  only 
35,  and  in  1860,  44.  I  think  there  was  a  special  reason 
for  the  decrease  that  followed  1832.  For  in  that  year  a 
change  was  made  in  our  winter  vacations  which  made  it  very 
difficult  for  our  indigent  students  to  keep  school  without  losing 
their  literary  standing,  and  as  a  consequence  such  went  to 
other  colleges,  where  they  could  be  better  accommodated. 
True  this  leak  was  discovered,  and  the  vacations  were  put 
back  into  the  old  notch  in  1840,  but  causes  of  this  sort  are 
slow  in  their  operation,  and  the  tide  having  begun  to  set  the 
wrong  way,  it  took  a  long  time  to  turn  it  back ;  and  when  I 
took  the  Presidency  in  1845,  it  was  one  of  the  hardest  changes 
I  labored  upon  to  bring  back  that  class  of  young  men :  but 
even  for  ten  years  I  did  little  more  than  to  keep  the  waters 
from  sinking  lower.  We  have  never  gone  back  to  the  high 
per  cent,  of  early  days :  nay,  I  fear  we  must  confess  that  a 
downward  progress  is  the  settled  order  of  things.  Yet  this 
is  a  melancholy  conclusion,  in  view  of  the  grand  object  for 
which  the  College  was  founded. 

I  have  made  some  effort  to  ascertain  how  the  above  700 
ministers  have  been  distributed  amqng  the  different  religious 
denominations.  But  as  it  was  usually  accidental  if  I  discov 
ered  their  preferences  of  this  sort,  while  connected  with  the 
College,  and  I  have  been  able  to  follow  them  but  imperfectly 
since  they  left  us,  the  following  estimate  must  be  regarded  as 
not  a  very  close  approximation  to  the  truth : — 


RELATIVE   NUMBER.  191 

Orthodox  Congregationalists,  Presbyterians  and 
Dutch  Reformed,         .         .         ...  673 

Baptists,         .         .         .         .         .         •       '.     21 

Episcopalians,  f         .         .         .       5 

Unitarians,      .    *.    .         .         .         .         .         .6 

Universalists,  .....         .         .       2 

The  relative  number  of  ministers  furnished  by  the  Northern 
Colleges  compared  with  the  whole  number  of  their  graduates 
is  shown  below.     At  Amherst  the  estimate  embraces  all  the 
graduates  to  the  present  time ;  but  in  the  other  Colleges  I 
have  not  access  to  the  means  of  bringing  it  down  later  than 
1852. 

At  Amherst  one  in    .         f        ;«         .         „         1.96 
At  Middlebury  one  in        .         .         .        ... "       2.31 

At  Vermont  University  one  in  .         .         .         3.10 
At  Williams  College  one  in        .         .         .         3.13 
At  Hamilton  College  one  in       .        ,f         .         3.7 
At  Yale  and  Brown  one  in         .        .,         ?         3.8 
At  Dartmouth  one  in         ....         3.9 

At  Harvard  one  in    .         .         .         .         .         4.2 

At  Princeton  one  in  .          .         .          .         .         5.4 

At  Bowdoin  one  in    .         .          .          .         .         5.6 

The  yearly  supply  of  ministers  from  the  same  colleges  up 
to  the  same  periods  has  been  as  follows : — 

Amherst, 17.5 

Yale, .        .       10.3 

Middlebury, 7.8 

Williams,          .         .         .         .         .         .         7.2 

Dartmouth,       .         .         .         .  .         7.0 

Harvard, 6.9 

Princeton,         ...         .         .         .         .         5.3 

Brown,     .         .         .         .         ,         ,         ,         5.1 

Vermont  University,          .         .         .  1.6 

Almost  all  the  above  institutions  were  founded  by  religious 
men  and  with  essentially  the  same  object  in  view  as  at  Amherst. 


192  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

It  is  certainly  gratifying,  therefore,  to  its  founders  to  see  it  thus 
stand  at  the  head  of  the  list.  But  let  him  that  thinketh  he 
standeth  take  heed  lest  he  fall. 

4.     MISSIONARIES. 

The  circumstances  of  our  country  of  late  years,  stretching 
across  the  continent  and  embracing  almost  every  variety  of 
climate,  soil  and  tribes  of  the  human  family,  have  almost  oblit 
erated  the  distinction  between  foreign  and  domestic  missions. 
As  I  have  said  in  my  sermon  on  the  United  States  as  a  com 
missioned  Missionary  Nation,  published  by  the  College  Society 
of  Inquiry : — 

"  We  used  to  look  upon  these  fields  as  exceedingly  diverse,  and  to 
regard  the  foreign  one  as  calling  for  much  more  self-denial  and  sacri 
fice  than  the  domestic.  But  with  the  single  exception  of  greater 
personal  security  from  governmental  protection  at  home,  in  what 
respect  does  the  foreign  differ  from  the  home  field  ?  Is  it  in  distance  ? 
But  how  few  pagan  fields  are  more  distant  than  the  Pacific  shores  ? 
Is  it  in  the  degradation  and  misery  of  the  inhabitants  ?  But  where  in 
heathen  lands,  will  you  find  men  more  sunk  in  ignorance,  poverty 
and  superstition,  than  many  of  the  wandering  tribes  along  the  Ilocky 
Mountains,  or  the  inhabitants  of  New  Mexico,  or  our  slave  popula 
tion,  or  even  many  of  those  disembogued  from  the  prisons  and  poor- 
houses  of  Europe  upon  our  Atlantic  cities  ?  Is  it  in  the  unhealthiness 
of  the  climate  ?  But  even  Africa  itself  is  scarcely  more  full  of  deadly 
miasms  than  many  of  the  low  fever-producing  regions  of  this  country. 
Is  it  in  a  separation  from  civilized  life  r  But  what  isolation  can  be 
more  complete,  to  one  accustomed  to  refined  society,  than  vast  regions 
in  our  country,  where  the  pioneer  woodsman  and  hunter  have  yet 
found  only  a  precarious  foothold.  Is  it  in  a  great  diversity  of  lan 
guage  and  habits  ?  Truly  we  have  a  Babel  among  us,  and  habits  and 
manners  as  diverse  as  the  antipodes  can  furnish. 

'« The  matter  of  fact  is,  that  God  has  so  located  us,  and  environed 
us,  and  mingled  foreigners  among  us,  that  to  do  our  duty  as  mission 
aries  in  many  parts  of  what  we  call  our  country,  demands  the  same 
humble  and  devoted  pietv,  the  same  physical  and  moral  training,  and 
the  same  willingness  to  submit  to  privation  and  hardships,  as  on  any 
foreign  shore.  And  the  lesson  is  an  important  one,  because  it  identi 
fies  the  work  everywhere  as  one.  It  awakens  sympathy  among  the 


MISSIONARIES.  193 

laborers,  and  makes  them  feel  that  all  are  exposed  nearly  alike  to  the 
heat  and  burden  of  the  day,  and  entitled  to  the  same  reward  if  faith 
ful.  It  shows  us  all  that  the  missionary  cause  is  a  work  for  the 
world,  and  not  for  particular  localities.  It  shows  us  that  a  mission 
ary  spirit  is  the  appropriate  characteristic  of  every  Christian,  without 
•which  he  ought  not  to  bear  the  name." 

The  founders  of  Amherst  College,  as  appears  from  the 
Preamble  to  their  original  Constitution,  had  both  these  classes 
of  missionaries  in  view  in  their  enterprise.  But  those  who 
chose  the  foreign  field,  both  from  location  and  the  mode  of 
their  appointment,  became  more  definitely  known  than  the 
others.  Indeed,  since  every  grade  of  destitution  exists  in  our 
country,  it  is  not  easy  to  say  in  many  cases  whether  a  minister 
should  be  called  a  home  missionary  or  an  ordinary  pastor. 
Moreover,  not  a  few  ordinary  pastors  after  a  while  enter  upon 
the  missionary  work  in  some  destitute  field,  and  perhaps  we 
never  hear  of  it.  Hence  I  have  been  unable  to  obtain  a  defi 
nite  list  of  the  domestic  missionaries  educated  here,  as  I  have 
of  those  who  have  left  the  country.  Professor  Tyler  states 
that  in  1850  as  many  as  fifty  graduates  of  Amherst  were 
laboring  as  domestic  missionaries ;  which  was  about  as  many 
as  had  gone  to  the  foreign  field  during  the  whole  history  of  the 
College.  In  1863  the  latter  amounted  to  sixty-three.  The 
following  list  will  show  when  and  where  they  have  gone,  and 
as  I  was  acquainted  with  them  all  I  should  be  glad  to  give 
additional  facts  concerning  them. 

1.  David  0.  Allen,  from  Princeton ;  born  in   1800 ;  gradu 
ated  in  1823,  two  years  before  the  Charter;  studied  at  Andover 
and  went  to  India  in  1827.     His  wife  died  in  1831 ;  remarried; 
has  resided  several  years  in  this  country  and  written  valuable 
works  on  India.     Received  the  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Amherst 
in  1853. 

2.  John   Taylor  Jones,  from  Ashby ;    graduated  in    1825; 
sent,  in  1825,  to  Siam,  by  the  Baptist  Board   of  Missions. 
Died  in  1851.     Received  the  degree  of  D.  D.  frpm  Columbia 
College. 

9 


194  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

3.  Elijah  Colman  Bridgman,  from  Belchertown ;  graduated 
in   1826;  from  Andover,   1829;  same   year   sent   to    China; 
received  the  degree  of  D.  D.  from  New  York  University ;  died 
in  1861,  after  thirty-two  years  of  missionary  labor. 

4.  Alonzo   Chapin,  from  West   Springfield;    graduated   in 
1826;    a   physician;    studied   at   Philadelphia;  went   to   the 
Sandwich  Islands  in    1831,  and  was   honorably   released   in 
1837.     Has  since  resided  in  the  eastern  part  of  Massachusetts. 

5.  JZdward  Jones,  from  New  York  city ;  graduated  in  1826; 
sent   as   a   missionary  to  Liberia  by  the  Episcopal  Church; 
afterwards  transferred  to  the  presidency  of  a  college  in  Sierra 
Leone,  where  he  still  remains.     He  is  a  colored  man,  the  only 
one  who  ever  graduated  at  Amherst  College. 

6.  George  W.  Boygs,  from  Pendleton  District,  South  Caro 
lina;  graduated  in  1827;  sent  to  the  Mahrattas,  in  India,  in 
1832  ;  returned  hi  1838.     I  have  no  knowledge  of  his  subse 
quent  history. 

7.  Stephen  Johnson,  from  Griswold,  Connecticut ;  graduated 
in  1827  ;  sent,  by  the  American  Board,  as  missionary  to  Ban- 
kok,  in  Siam,  in  1833 ;  returned  in  1838,  and  his  wife  died  in 
1839  ;  but  he  married  again  and  went  back  to  Siam. 

8.  Reuben  Tinker,  from  Chester,  Massachusetts ;  graduated 
in  1827 ;  finished  study  at  Auburn  in  1830  and  went  to  the 
Sandwich  Islands ;  visited  the'  Washington  Islands  in  1832 ; 
returned  in  1841  on  account  of  a  difficulty  with  the  American 
Board ;  was  settled  as  pastor  of  the  church  in  Westfield,  New 
York,  in  1845,  and  died  in  1854.     His  biography,  by  Dr.  M. 
L.  P.  Thompson,  was  published  in  1856. 

9.  Isaac  Bliss,  from  Warren,  Massachusetts ;  graduated  in 
1828;  from  Auburn  in  1831 ;  went  to  the  Sandwich  Islands 
in  1836 ;  returned  in  1842,  and  died  in  1851. 

Five  missionaries  by  the  name  of  Bliss  have  gone  out  from 
Amherst  College. 

10.  Story  ffebard,  from  Lebanon,  New  Hampshire,  gradu 
ated  in  1828  :  my  assistant  in  the  Laboratory  and  in  a  geolog 
ical  survey  of  Massachusetts :  also  Tutor  two  years :  distin- 


MISSIONARIES.  195 

guished  afterwards  as  a  teacher  in  Springfield :  left  Andover 
in  1834  and  went  missionary  to  Syria  in  1835,  where  he  was 
principal  of  a  High  School  on  Mount  Lebanon.  In  1841 
he  started  on  his  return  and  died  on  the  passage. 

11.  Ashur   Miss,  from  West  Fairlee,  Vermont,  graduated 
in  1829 :  from  Andover  in  1832,  and  the  same  year  went  as 
missionary  to  the  Indians  of  New  York,  then  regarded  as  a 
foreign  mission.     So  far  as  I  know,  he  is  still  alive. 

12.  Henry  Lyman.     Born  in  Northampton,  but  resided  in 
Amherst  during  his  collegiate  course,  where  he  graduated  in 
1829,  and  at  Andover  in  1832 :  went  as  a  missionary  to  the 
Indian  Archipelago  in  1833 :  murdered  in  Sumatra  by  the 
Battas  in  1834.     His  biography  has  been  published. 

13.  Benjamin    W.  Perkins,  from  Reading,    Massachusetts, 
graduated  in   1829,    and   from  Andover  in   1832:    went  to 
Sandwich  Islands  the  same  year  and  visited  the  Washington 
Islands  in  1833.     He  still  lives  to  labor  in  the   Sandwich 
Islands. 

14  Justin  Perkins,  from  West  Springfield,  graduated  in 
1829:  was  two  years  Tutor  at  Amherst:  studied  at 
Andover:  went  to  the  Nestorians  of  Persia  in  1833.  Eight 
years  afterwards  he  visited  this  country  and  published  a  work 
of  500  pages,  entitled  "  Residence  in  Persia,  &c."  He  went 
back  and  remained  till  1859,  when  he  returned  again  on 
account  of  the  health  of  his  wife.  In  1862  he  went  back 
again  to  Persia,  although  he  had  labored  there  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  century.  In  1842  the  title  of  D.  D.  was  con 
ferred  on  him  by  his  Alma  Mater. 

15.  JZlias  Riggs,  from  Mendham,  New  Jersey,  graduated 
in  1829,  and  from  Andover  in  1832 :  in  1833  he  went  as  a 
missionary  to  Greece:  in  1838  he  was  transferred  to  Turkey 
and  he  still  lives  to  labor  in  Constantinople.  He  has  visited 
this  country  once  at  least,  and  in  1853  Dartmouth  College 
conferred  on  him  the  degree  of  D.  D. 

In  the  class  of  1829  were  five  missionaries,  all  of  whom, 
except  Henry  Lyman,  still  live. 


196  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

16.  William  Arms,  from  Montrose,  Pennsylvania,  graduated 
in  1830,  and  from  Andover  in  1833 :  he  was  sent  with  Mr. 
Coan  as  a  missionary  to  Patagonia  in   1833,  from  which  he 
returned  and  was  then  appointed  to  go  among  the  Dyaks  of 
Borneo  in  1835.     He  returned  in  1837,  and  on  account  of  bad 
health  was  released :  studied  medicine  and  received  a  medi 
cal  degree  at  Hanover,  N.  H.,  in   1839,  and  went  west  as  a 
practitioner,  where  he  may  be  still  living.     He  also  acted  for 
a  time  as  domestic  missionary. 

17.  Henry  A.  Homes,  from  Boston;    graduated  in  1830, 
also  from  New  Haven  in  1833.     In  1834  he  went  as  mission 
ary  to  Turkey,  having  spent  a  year  in  Paris  on  his  wray.     In 
1839  he  visited  Syria  and  Mesopotamia,  where  he  narrowly 
escaped  death  from  the  Mohammedans.   Afterwards  he  left  the 
service  of  the  Board  of  Missions,  and  was  connected  with  the 
American  Embassy;  subsequently  he  returned  to  this  coun 
try,  and  has  been  assistant  librarian  of  the  State  Library  in 
Albany.     He  was   not  professedly   pious   till    after    he    left 
College. 

18.  Oliver  P.  Powers,   from   Phillipston,    Massachusetts; 
graduated  in  1830,  and  from  Andover  in  1834 ;  missionary  the 
same  year  to  Broosa,  Asia  Minor;    afterwards  he  went  to 
Central  Turkey,  where   he  labored  for   many  years,   but  is 
now  in  this  country  on  account  of  the  health  of  his  wife. 

19.  James  L.  Merrick,  from  Monson,  Massachusetts;  grad 
uated  in  1830,  and  studied  theology  at  Columbia,  South  Caro 
lina,  on  account  of  his  health ;  went  out  as  a  missionary  to 
Persia  in  1834;  came  near  losing  his  life  there  from  a  mob 
of  Mussulmen,  for  attempting  with  some  German  missionaries 
to  distribute  the  Bible.     Ordered  in  1842  to  join  the  Nesto- 
rian  mission  at  Ooroomiah.     Recalled  and  dismissed  in  1845, 
on  account  of  some  difference  of  opinion  between  him  and  the 
Missionary  Board.     Subsequently  settled  in  South  Amherst, 
where  he  is  still  pastor. 

20.  Benjamin  Schneider,  from  New  Hanover,  in  Pennsyl 
vania;  graduated  in  1830,  and  from  Andover  in  1833;  went 


MISSIONARIES.  197 

the  same  year  as  missionary  to  Broosa,  in  Asia  Minor ;  after 
wards  transferred  to  Aintab,  on  the  Euphrates,  where  he  has 
had  extraordinary  success.  He  has  visited  this  country  once. 
Received  the  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Franklin  Marshal  College, 
in  Pennsylvania. 

21.  Ebenezer  Burgess,  from  Grafton,  Vermont;  graduated 
in  1831,  and  was  a  Tutor  in  College  two  years ;  from  Andover 
in  1837  ;  went  the  same  year  to  India,  to  the  Mahrattas,  sub 
sequently  to  Ahmednuggur,  and  finally  to  Satara ;  lost  his  wife 
and  child,  and  came  home,  but  returned ;  but  health  failing 
again,  and  being  dissatisfied  with  some  of  the  measures  of  the 
Mission  Board  as  to  education,  he  resigned,  and  has  been  since 
a  preacher  in  several  places.     Since  his  return  he  has  pub 
lished  a  learned  work   on  Astronomy,  a  translation  of  the 
Surya  Siddhanta. 

22.  Alden  Grout,  from  Pelham,  Massachusetts;  graduated 
in  1831,  and  from  Andover  in  1834;  went  as  missionary  to 
the  Zulus  of  South  Africa  in  1835  ;  lost  his  wife,  and  returned 
in  1837 ;   re-married,  and  returned  and  labored  till  two  or 
three  years  ago,  when  he  again  visited  the  United  States ;  but 
he  has  returned,  and  is  still  laboring  among  the  Zulus  very 
successfully. 

23.  Israel  W.   Searl,  from   Southampton,   Massachusetts ; 
graduated  in  1832  ;  did  not  study  a  profession,  but  was  sent  as  a 
missionary  teacher  to  Liberia  by  the  Colonization  Society,  and 
soon  died  there,  probably  from  neglect  of  proper  precaution. 
He  found  himself  feeling  in  Africa  as  he  did  in  New  England, 
and  hence  concluded  that  the  usual  care  used  was  unnecessary, 
and  his  death  was  the  result. 

24.  Obadiah  M.  Johnson,  from  Newark,  New  Jersey  ;  grad 
uated  in   1832  ;  became  a   minister,  and  went   as  Seaman's 
Chaplain  to  Ilio  Janeiro,  in  South  America.     He  afterwards 
returned  and  was  settled  as  a  minister,  but  I  know  not  where. 

25.  Leander  Thompson,  from  Woburn,  Massachusetts  ;  grad 
uated  in  1835,  and  from  Andover  in  1838.     Went  as  mission 
ary  to  Syria  in  1840,  but  returned  in  1845,  partly,  I  believe, 


198  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

from  difference  of  opinion  between  him  and  the  Missionary 
Board  ;  afterwards  settled  for  several  years  at  South  Hadley 
Falls,  and  since  then  over  another  church. 

26.  James  C.  Bryant,  from  New  Boston,  New  Hampshire  ; 
graduated  in  1836,  from  Andover  in  1840  ;  did  not  go  out  as 
a  missionary  to  the  Zulus  in  South  Africa  till  1846  ;  having 
been  settled  for  five  years  as  a  pastor  in  Littleton ;  he  labored 
in  Africa  till  1850,  when  he  died. 

27.  Samuel     C.    Damon,    from    Holden,    Massachusetts ; 
graduated  in   1836,  and  from  Andover  in  1841.     Not  long 
after   he  went   out   to   the    Sandwich   Islands   as    Seaman's 
Chaplain,  and  he  has  since  resided  at  Honolulu,  except  he  has 
once  or  twice  visited  this  country.     For  many  years  he  has 
edited  a  very  useful  newspaper  called  "The  Friend."     In 
1861  Mr.  Damon  visited  Micronesia,  and  gave  an  interesting 
description  of  those  Islands,  both  in  the  "  Friend "  and  in  a 
pamphlet  of  78  pages,  called  the  "  Morning  Star  Papers." 

28.  Edwin  JS.  Bliss,  from  West   Springfield ;  graduated  in 
1837,  and  from  Andover  in  1842  ;  in  1843  went  as  a  mission 
ary  to  Trebizond  ;  in  1848,  returned  to  this  country  on  account 
of  the  health  of  his  wife,  but  went  back,  and  now  resides  in 
Constantinople. 

29.  George  B.   Howell,   from    Cornish,   New   Hampshire; 
graduated  in  1837,  and  at  Andover  in  1841.     In  1843  he  was 
sent  to  the  Sandwich  Islands,  and  I  am  not  aware  that  he  has 
ever  returned.     He  still  lives  and  labors  there. 

30.  Samuel  Austin   Taylor,  from  Worcester ;  graduated  in 
1837,  and  in  1842  at  Andover.     To  what  part  of  the  world  he 
went  I  have  not  ascertained ;  but  he  died  in  1847,  only  29 
years  old. 

31.  Henry  J.  Van  Lennep,  from   Smyrna,  Asia  Minor,  son 
of  the   Dutch   Consul ;  graduated  in    1837   with  the  highest 
honors,  also  from  Andover  in  1840,  and  the  same  year  went 
as  missionary  to  Smyrna.     He  has  lost  two  wives,  and  been 
back  to  this  country  three  times.     He  is  now  here  in  1862. 
For  a  time  he  was  connected  with  a  High  School  at  Constan- 


MISSIONARIES.  199 

tinople.  Afterwards  he  went  to  Tocat,  the  burial  place  of 
Henry  Martyn,  where  a  few  years  ago  he  had  his  house  and 
all  his  library  burned.  He  received  the  degree  of  D.  D. 
at  Amherst  in  1862. 

32.  William    Walker,  from   Greensboro',  Vermont;  gradu 
ated  in  1838  ;  and  in  1841   at  Andover.     In  1842  he  went  as 
a  missionary  to  the  mouth  of  the  Gaboon  River,  in  West  Africa. 
He  has  lost  two  wives,  and  I  believe  is  now  living  with  the 
third.     He  has  visited  this  country  twice,  and  perhaps  three 
times,  and  perhaps  it  is  owing  to  such  occasional  changes  that 
he  has  been  able  to  preserve  good  health  for  nineteen  years  in 
the  deadly  climate  of  Western  Africa. 

33.  Joel  S.  Everett,  from  Halifax,  Vermont ;  graduated  in 
1840,  and  in  1845  went  as  a  missionary  to  Smyrna,  in  Asia 
Minor,  and  was  transferred  to   Constantinople,  where  he  died 
in  1856,  much  missed  and  lamented. 

34.  William  W.  Rowland,  from  West  Brookfield;  graduated 
hi  1841,  and  studied  theology  in  the  New  York  Theological 
Seminary.     Went  to  Ceylon  in  1845,  where  he  labored  till 
within  three  or  four  years,  when  poor  health  compelled  lu'm  to 
return.     But  he  has  recovered  vigor  enough  to  allow  him  to 
go  back. 

35.  James,  O.  Bridgman,  from  Amherst;  graduated  in  1842. 
In  1846  he  joined  his  uncle,  Dr.  Elijah  C.  Bridgman,  in  China, 
as  a  teacher.      He  translated  and  published  Nottia  Linguce 
Sinicae  from  Chinese  into  English  ;  but  studied  too  hard ;  his 
mind  lost  its  balance,  and  he  took  his  own  life. 

36.  Joseph     G.    Cochran,   from    Springville,    New   York ; 
graduated  in  1842,  and  went  as  a  missionary  to  Ooroomiah  in 
1847,  where  he  still  labors. 

37.  Isaac   G.  Bliss,  from  West  Springfield,  Massachusetts, 
and  brother  of  Edwin  E.  Bliss,  already  mentioned,  graduated 
in   1844,  and  in  1847  went  as  missionary  to  Erzeroom,  in 
Armenia ;  health  failing,  he  returned  in  a  few  years,  but  at 
length  went  back  to   Constantinople  to  act  as  agent  of  the 
Bible  Society. 


200  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

38.  Eliphal  Maynard,  from  Potsdam,  New  York ;   gradu 
ated  in  1844,  and  at  East  Windsor  a  few  years  after.     "Went 
in  1849  as  a  missionary  to  the  Jews  in  Asia  Minor;  but  had 
hardly  entered  upon  his  work  before  he  was  smitten  down  by 
a  disease  of  the  brain. 

39.  Joseph    T.   Noyes,   from   Newburyport;    graduated    in 
1845,  and  from  Andover  in  course/     In  1848  he  went  as  a 
missionary-  to  Ceylon,  where  he  has  continued  till  this  time. 

40.  Josiali   Tyler,  from   East   Windsor;    son   of  President 
Tyler;  graduated  in  1845,  and  at  East  Windsor  in   1848; 
appointed   to  South-Eastern   Africa  in   1848,  where  he  has 
labored  ever  since. 

41.  Sereno  E.  Bishop,  from  Oahu  on  the  Sandwich  Islands  ; 
graduated   in    1846 ;    went    subsequently   to   the    Sandwich 
Islands  as  missionary  of  the  Seaman's  Friend  Society,  where 
he  now  labors. 

42.  Charles  Hartwdl,  from  Lincoln,  Massachusetts ;  gradu 
ated  in  1849,  and  at  Andover  in  course ;  appointed  soon  after 
to  a  mission  in  China,  where  he  has  continued  to  labor  till 
this  time.     Converted  in  College. 

43.  Hubert  P.  Herrick,  from  McDonnough,   New  York; 
graduated  in  1849  ;  went  as  missionary  to  West  Africa ;  soon 
after  returned  on  a  visit  to  this  country ;  went  back  and  died 
soon  after  in  1857. 

44.  Henry  Lobdell,  from  Danbury,  Connecticut ;  graduated 
in  1849 ;  received  a  medical  education  at  New  Haven,  and 
a  theological   one   at   Auburn,   and   went  as   missionary  to 
Mosul  in  1851,  having  previously  been  engaged  with  his  wife 
in  a  select  school  in  Danbury,  Connecticut,  during  which  time 
he  published  a  translation  of  a  large  French  work.     He  died 
at  Mosul  in  1855,  and  a  memoir  of  him,  of  great  interest,  has 
been  published  by  Professor  Tyler. 

45.  Albert  G.  Beele,  from  Guilford,  New  York ;  graduated 
in  1850;  went  to  Armenia,  where  his  wife  died;  he  returned 
home  and  I  believe  has  dissolved  his  connection  with  the 
American  Missionary  Board  and  been  settled  as  a  pastor. 


MISSIONARIES.  201 

46.  Henry  M.  Adams,  from  Enosburg,  Vermont ;  graduated 
in  1851,  and  from  East  Windsor  in  1854;  went  soon  after  to 
the  Gaboon  Mission  in  Western  Africa,  where  he  died  in 
1856.     His  death   was   a  remarkable  exhibition   of  Divine 
grace. 

47.  Marcus  M.   Carlton,  from  Marshfield,  Massachusetts ; 
graduated  in  1851,  in  wretched  health;  went  abroad  as  a 
missionary,  but  where,  I  cannot  say. 

48.  frauds  A.  Douglass,  from  Plattsburg,  New  York ;  grad 
uated  in  1851;  sent  as  a  missionary  by  the  Baptist  Board  of 
Missions  to  Siam,  where  he  is  now  laboring. 

49.  William  0.  Baldwin,  from  Mount  Vernon,  New  Hamp 
shire  ;   graduated  in   1851 ;   went  to  the  Sandwich  Islands, 
where  he  labored  many  years. 

50.  Heman  N.  Barnum,  from  Leicester,  New  York ;  grad 
uated  in  1852 ;  visited  Armenia  a  few  years  ago,  where  his 
classmate,   O.   P.  Allen,  is  a  missionary,  and  concluded  to 
remain,  and  they  are  now  associated  in  labor  at  Kharpoot. 

51.  Orson  P.  Allen,  from  Mount  Morris,  New  York  ;  grad 
uated  in  1852  ;  went   to  Eastern  Turkey  soon  after,  and  is 
now  laboring  at  Kharpoot. 

52.  Daniel  Bliss,  from   Geneva,  Ohio ;  graduated  in  1852, 
and  from  Andover  in  course.     He  went  soon  after  as  a  mis 
sionary  to  Syria,  and  is  now  in  this  country,  raising  funds  for 
a  University  on  Mount  Lebanon,  of  which  he  is  to  be  presi- 
ident.     Converted  in  college. 

53.  Samuel  0.  Dean,  from   Oakham,  Massachusetts ;  grad 
uated  in  1853,  and  went  soon  after  to  Satara,  in  India,  where 
he  is  now  laboring. 

54.  Charles  F.  Morse,  from  Salem,  Vermont ;  graduated  in 
1853,   and   from   Andover   in    1856 ;   went   subsequently  to 
European  Turkey,  and  is  now  laboring  in  Adrianople. 

55.  James   F.    Clarke,   from    Sunderland,   Massachusetts ; 
graduated  in  1854.  and  from  Andover  in  1858  ;  went  subse 
quently    to    European    Turkey,    and    is    now    laboring    in 
Bulgaria. 

9* 


202  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

56.  Milan  M.  Hitchcock,  from  Bergen,  New  York;  gradu 
ated  in  1854,  and  from  Bangor  in  course.     Sent  as  a  missionary 
to  Ceylon  in  1857  or  '58  ;  but  was  obliged  to  return  in  a  year 
or  two  on  account  of  his  wife's  health,  and  he  is  no  longer 
connected  with  the  Board. 

57.  George  Washburn,  from  Middleborough,  Massachusetts ; 
graduated  in  1855.     He  did  not  complete  the  study  of  theol 
ogy  in  this  country,  but  went  to  Constantinople  as  a  traveller, 
and  remained   there   as   mission   treasurer.      He    has    since 
returned  to  this  country  to  prepare  himself  for  ordination. 

58.  James  A.  Bates,  from  Granby,  Massachusetts  ;  gradu 
ated  in  1856,  and  from  Andover  in  1859  ;  and  was  sent  as  a 
missionary  to  Ceylon  soon  after,  where  he  now  resides. 

59.  John  H.  Dodge,  from  Wenham,  Massachusetts  ;  gradu 
ated  in  1856,  and  from  Andover  in  1859.     He  was  sent  by  the 
American    Missionary   Association   soon    after    to   "Western 
Africa  ;  but  returned  in  a  year  or  two  on  account  of  the  health 
of  his  wife.     He  preached  two  years  in  Wendell,  Massachu 
setts,  and  was  then  called  by  his  Master  out  of  the  world  in 
1863. 

60.  Amherst  L.    Thompson,  from  Amherst;  graduated  in 
1856,  and  from  Andover  in  1859  ;  wrent  out  as  a  missionary  to 
Ooroomiah,  but  died  soon  after  reaching  his  field. 

61.  Henry  M.  Bridgman,  from  "Westhampton,  Massachu 
setts  ;  graduated  in  1857,  and  from  Andover  in  1860 ;  went 
soon  after  to  the  Zulus  in  South-eastern  Africa,  where  he 
now  resides. 

62.  Alvan  B.  Goodale,  from  Potsdam,  New  York ;  gradu 
ated  in    1858 ;  received   a   medical   education,   and  went  to 
Central  Turkey,  where  lie  now  labors  as  a  physician. 

63.  George  Constantine,  a  native  of  Greece  ;  graduated  in 
1859,  and   at  Andover  in   1862 ;  he  has  gone  to  his  native 
land,   under   the   patronage   of  the   American   and  Foreign 
Christian  Union. 


MISSIONARIES.  203 

The  preceding  list  of  missionaries  presents  us  with  the 
following  results : — 

Whole  number  to  1860,     .         ..        .         .  63 

Number  of  ministers,          .         .         . .       ,  57 

Number  of  physicians,        ...         .  3 

Number  of  laymen, 3 

Number  who  have  been  married,      .  ,,  ^      .  60 

Went  out  at  first  unmarried,       .         .         .  7 

Married  the  second  time,    ....  8 

Married  the  third  time,       .  .         .  3 

Proportion  of  deaths  among  the  men,  one  in  4.1 
Proportion  of  deaths  among  females,  up  to 

1849,  one  in                    .         .         .         .  4.1 
Proportion  of  deaths  among  all  the  gradu 
ates,  one  iii   .         . '                .    "     .         .  6.3 

No  graduates  from  the  classes  of  1859  and  1860,  except 
Constantine,  have  yet  gone  out  as  missionaries,  though  I  know 
of  several  who  have  offered  their  services ;  but  their  profes 
sional  studies  are  not  completed,  and  the  war  has  cut  short  the 
funds.  Hence  we  ought  not  to  reckon  these  two  years  in 
ascertaining  what  proportion  of  the  graduates  have  been  foreign 
missionaries.  Up  to  1858  the  proportion  has  been  one  in  20.7. 
I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  what  is  the  proportion  in  but 
a  few  other  New  England  Colleges,  but  in  1852  it  stood  as 
follows : — 

In  Middlebury  one  in         .  ^        v      36.3 

In  Williams  one  in    .         .         .         .      •  ,•      40.0 
In  Dartmouth  one  in          .         ...      • ..        .     106.0 

It  ought,  however,  to  be  recollected  that  the  above  Colleges 
graduated  many  classes  before  the  subject  of  missions  had 
excited  much  interest  in  our  country,  and  in  estimating  the 
proportion  of  missionaries  as  compared  with  those  of  Amlierst 


204 


REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 


such  classes  should  be  left  out.     But  I  have  not  the  means  of 
making  such  an  estimate. 

If  we  put  down  the  number  of  missionaries  from  Amherst  in 
the  first  four  years  and  the  successive  five  years  to  1860,  it 
may  be  instructive. 


• 
'C 
a 

in 

3 

+i 

YEARS. 

o 

a 

s 

B 

9 

I 

z 

0 

5 

From  1822  to  1825,        ....... 

2 

53 

3.8 

From  1825  to  1830,        

18 

164 

11. 

From  18-30  to  1835,        

5 

214 

2.3 

From  1835  to  1840         

8 

232 

3.4 

From  1840  to  1845,        

7 

140 

5. 

From  1845  to  1850,        

5 

129 

4. 

From  1850  to  1855,        

12 

214 

5.6 

5 

231 

2.1 

Though  this  table  would  indicate  waves  of  missionary  influ 
ence,  particularly  from  1825  to  1830,  we  do  not  see  in  it  evi 
dence  that  it  has  been  on  the  decline.  I  fear,  however,  that 
we  who  preach  have  hardly  done  our  duty  to  this  cause.  But 
there  has  always  existed  in  the  College  a  missionary  band  who 
meet  from  time  to  time,  especially  when  some  returned  mis 
sionary  happens  to  be  in  town,  and  I  doubt  not  this  association 
is  one  of  the  most  important  means  of  keeping  alive  the 
missionary  spirit. 

5.     ASSISTANCE  TO  INDIGENT  STUDENTS. 

The  founders  of  the  College  did  not  merely  propose  to  raise 
up  ministers  and  missionaries,  but  to  encourage  the  indigent 
classes  to  become  such ;  well  knowing  that  this  was  the  most 
reliable  source  of  supply.  We  have  seen  their  success  in 
obtaining  the  men ;  let  us  look  at  the  aid  they  have  rendered 
tfiem  in  the  process  of  education. 

In  his  Valedictory  Address  in  1845,  Dr.  Humphrey  stated 
that  from  1825  to  1844  inclusive,  there  had  been  paid  from  the 


BENEFICIARIES. 


205 


Charity  Fund,  to  beneficiaries,  $39,896.51.  The  smallest 
annual  amount  was  in  1825,  viz.,  $5G4.72,  and  in  1844  it  was 
$2,229.76.  He  does  not  state  the  number  of  beneficiaries,  but 
from  1844  to  the  present  time,  by  the  assistance  of  the  Treas 
urer,  the  Hon.  Edward  Dickinson,  I  am  able  to  give  the  num 
ber  of  those  who  have  received  aid  each  year,  and  also  during 
my  Presidency  the  number  that  were  assisted  by  the  American 
Education  Society. 


1846, 

1847,  " 

1848,  " 

1849,  " 
1850, 

1851,  " 

1852,  " 

1853,  " 
1854, 

1855,  " 
1856, 

1857,  " 
1858, 
1859, 

1860,  " 

1861,  " 

Amount  since  1845, 
"        before  1845, 


Nos. 
helped. 

Amount 
paid. 

,45, 

$2,096  00. 

39, 

2,128  00. 

48, 

2,032  00. 

65, 

2,576  00. 

70, 

2,744  00. 

79, 

3,206  00. 

76, 

2,996  00. 

62, 

2,708  00. 

53, 

2,493  00. 

62, 

2,595  00. 

80, 

2,595  00. 

88, 

3,525  00. 

85, 

3,172  00. 

81, 

2,820  00. 

72, 

2,496  00. 

70, 

2,448  00. 

59, 

2,610  00. 

$45,240  00. 
39,897  00. 


Amount  from  Charity  Fund,  $85,137  00. 
"  from  Stimpson  Fund,  4,766  00. 
"  from  the  Moore  Fund,  634  00. 


to  indigent  pious  stu 


dents,  . 


$90,537  00. 


Nos. 
helped. 


28 
26 
45 
42 
57 
56 
46 
40 
68 


It  thus  appears  that  up  to  this  time  the  College  has  paid 
over  ninety  thousand  dollars  to  aid  those  in  straitened  circum 
stances  who  are  seeking  the  ministry,  from  all  its  funds  devoted 


206  REMINISCENCES   OF  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

to  that  object.  They  do  not,  indeed,  receive  the  money  ;  but 
it  is  equivalent  to  money  by  paying  their  term-bills.  The 
income  some  years,  especially  before  the  Stimpson  Fund 
became  available,  was  not  always  sufficient  to  cancel  their 
entire  bills,  and  hence  some  of  the  Trustees  imagined  that  if 
the  whole  bills  were  paid  in  such  years  it  would  be  equivalent 
to  paying  from  the  treasury  the  amount  of  the  deficiency. 
But  Professor  Fiske  suggested  that  nothing  was  in  fact  paid 
from  the  treasury,  but  the  College  simply  allowed  such 
students  to  go  on  at  a  somewhat  cheaper  rate  than  others,  and 
he  recommended  that  the  offer  should  be  made  on  the  cata 
logue  that  the  entire  regular  term-bills  of  indigent  students 
should  be  paid,  and  then  they  would  know  beforehand  what 
to  depend  upon,  and  more  would  be  attracted  to  the  Col 
lege,  and  thus  the  College  would  really  gain  instead  of 
losing  by  such  an  announcement.  Accordingly,  in  1846, 
when  Providence  provided  such  an  increase  to  our  funds, 
the  Trustees  voted  to  "  remit  the  full  amount  of  the  regular 
term-bills  to  those  students  who  desire  it  and  are  indigent  and 
are  preparing  for  the  Christian  ministry."  I  cannot  doubt 
that  it  was  mainly  this  vote  that  almost  doubled  the  number 
of  beneficiaries  in  three  or  four  years,  although  the  whole 
number  of  students  in  those  years  was  much  smaller  than 
previously  or  afterwards.  It  brought  back  a  very  desirable 
class  of  young  men  who  had  been  driven  away  some  years 
previously  by  a  change  of  the  winter  vacation  unfavorable  to 
school  keeping,  and  thus  carried  out  more  completely  one  of 
the  great  objects  of  the  College,  viz.,  to  help  the  indigent.  I 
think  the  opposite  effect  of  a  partial  return  to  the  old  policy 
of  paying  the  term-bills  only  in  part,  may  be  seen  in  the 
reduced  number  of  beneficiaries  in  proportion  .to  the  number 
of  students  in  later  years.  But  the  income  of  the  three  funds 
that  have  been  described  will  soon  be  and  I  believe  now  is 
sufficient  to  pay  the  entire  bills  of  all  who  apply  and  have  the 
requisite  qualifications.  So  that  we  shall  need  no  further 
discussions  on  this  subject. 


SPIRITUAL  DANGERS.  207 

Gratifying  as  this  review  of  the  religious  history  of  the  Col 
lege  is  and  of  the  wonderful  success  which  God  has  given  to  the 
enterprise  thus  far,  it  is  impossible  to  avoid  some  solicitude 
for  the  future.  For  almost  every  analogous  literary  institu 
tion,  after  becoming  large  and  prosperous,  has  deteriorated- — 
oli,  how  sadly,  sometimes — in  religious  character.  I  cannot 
but  add  a  few  things,  therefore,  at  least,  to  show  from  what 
quarters  the  danger  will  come. 

1.  The  general  source  of  the  danger  lies  in  prosperity  and 
success.     The  furnace  of  adversity  merely  burns  off  the  dross 
of  Christian  character ;  but  the  sun  of  prosperity  nourishes  a 
host  of  weeds  and  excrescences.     The  first  leads  men  to  trust 
in  God ;  the  last,  in  themselves.     It  is  the  same  with  asso 
ciated  bodies  of  men,  such  as  churches  and  literary  institutions. 
Hence  I  tremble  for  Amherst  College ;  for  although  its  out 
ward  prosperity  is  not  absolutely  great,  it  is  so  in  comparison 
with  what  it  once  was,  and  often  it  takes  but  a  little  success 
to  ruin  an  individual,  a  church,  or  a  college. 

2.  Such  a  deteriorating  process  will  not  come  on  suddenly,  or 
even  visibly,  but  insidiously,  and  by  infinitesimal  changes.     It 
always  has  been  so  in  like  cases.     A  simple  omission  to  preach 
certain  doctrines,  or  to  do   certain  things,   will  often   more 
effectually  starve  out  and  deaden  vital  piety  than  could  be 
done  by  the  most  vigorous  open  assaults. 

3.  A  tolerance  of  vital  errors  and  neglect  boldly  to  preach 
the  doctrines  of  the  Reformation  form  some  of  the  earliest 
evidences  of   downward  progress  in    a  religious  college  like 
Amherst.      When    it  becomes  unpopular    to  maintain   such 
doctrines  as  the  essentials  of  religion,  and  popular  to  admit 
the  doctrine  that  the  essence  of  true  religion  lies  in  right 
feelings   which   do   not   require   a   correct   creed — then    the 
process  of  deterioration  will  have  gone  very  far.      For  it 
ought  never  to  be  forgotten  that  the  defection  of  Harvard 
University  from  the  evangelical  faith  was  the  grand  argument 
for  building  up  another  college,  because  its  founders  believed 
that  the  negative  faith  there  adopted  would  never  produce 


208  REMINISCENCES    OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

true  conversions  or  raise  up  men  of  the  right  stamp  for  the 
world's  conversion.  If,  then,  the  strong  distinction  between 
evangelical  and  unevangelical  views  should  be  abandoned, 
true  revivals  will  soon  cease — a  missionary  spirit  will  die  out, 
and  a  formal  and  genteel  religion  will  take  the  place  of 
earnest  piety.  It  is  certain  that  the  tendency  of  opinions  at 
this  day  in  the  community  is  to  such  a  coalescence  between 
error  and  orthodoxy,  and  it  would  be  strange  if  the  College, 
waxen  fat  by  prosperity,  should  not  sympathize  in  the  delu 
sion.  Oh  that  its  guardians  and  officers  might  keep  their 
eyes  wide  open  to  this  danger. 

4.  Another  danger  is  that  the  desire  and  effort  to  make  the 
students  eminent  in  scholarship  shall  be  stronger  than  to  lead 
them  to  excel  in  piety.  At  the  best  not  a  few  sacrifice  their 
religion  to  their  reputation ;  but  as  the  constant  effort  with 
teachers  is  to  raise  the  literary  standard,  the  danger  is  that 
the  temptation  will  become  too  strong  for  any  to  resist. 

i>.  Whatever  increases  the  expenses  of  a  college  course 
tends  to  lower  the  standard  of  piety  and  to  defeat  the  great 
objects  of  its  founders.  For  it  drives  away  those  indigent 
pious  young  men  who  are  striving,  almost  without  means,  to 
obtain  an  education,  that  they  may  become  ministers  and 
missionaries.  And  whatever  any  may  think  as  to  the  other 
sources  of  danger  that  have  been  named,  here  is  one  that  has 
already  shown  its  disastrous  influence  extensively.  While  I 
was  in  the  Presidency  I  labored  with  all  my  might  to  keep 
down  the  necessary  expenses,  and  not  without  success,  after 
God  had  added  largely  to  our  means,  as  the  following  state 
ment  of  expenses  given  in  the  Annual  Catalogues  before  1846 
and  after  1854  will  show. 

For  several  years  previous  to  1847  the  estimated  expenses 
were  as  follows : — 

Tuition,  room-rent  and  incidentals,  .  .  $48.00  to  $51.00 
Board,  fuel,  lights  and  washing,  from  .  65.00  to  99.00 


INCREASE  OF  EXPENSES.  209 

From  1847  to  1854— 

Tuition,  &c., .        .-       '*  :     rJii     .         .  $42.00  to  $45.00 

Board,  &c.,    .         ;        *    '    V        .         .  48.00  to  89.00 

From  1855  to  the  present  time,  (1862,) 

Tuition,  &c.,          v"     *        *   '     •         •  $51.00  to  $54.00 

Board,&c.,    .         .'>•".'•     -t  '-;•--../..  75.00  to  125.00 

It  is  true  that  during  the  last  few  years  the  expenses  of 
living  have  been  greater  than  in  previous  years.  But  it  is 
also  true  that  luxury  and  extravagance  have  increased  in  a 
still  greater  ratio  in  the  community  generally,  and  of  course 
College  has  not  escaped  the  influence.  It  has  extended  to 
students,  and  a  costlier  way  of  doing  almost  every  thing  was 
the  result.  For  instance,  it  is  now  thought  indispensable  at 
every  Commencement,  and  often  at  the  Exhibitions,  that  one  of 
the  costly  city  bands  of  music  should  be  engaged  at  an  expense 
of  several  hundred  dollars.  So  each  class,  ere  it  graduates, 
must  get  up  a  tasteful  book,  containing  the  photographs  or 
engravings  of  the  whole  class  and  the  Faculty.  And  the  same 
system  of  doing  things  in  good  style  is  extended  into  all  the 
operations  of  the  numerous  societies,  and  there  is  competition 
among  the  different  associations  to  see  which  shall  have  the 
most  splendid  room  or  furniture  or  the  largest  library.  For  a 
time  some  of  the  poorer  members  of  the  classes  who  are  at 
their  wits  end  to  know  how  they  can  get  along  with  necessary 
expenses,  remonstrate  against  these  needless  luxuries.  But 
the  cry  is,  you  are  niggardly  and  mean  and  dishonorable  thus 
to  thwart  the  wishes  of  the  whole  class  or  association,  and  the 
remonstrating  members  are  forced  into  the  traces  to  keep  up 
with  public  opinion,  if  they  can  by  hook  or  by  crook  find  the 
means,  or  they  drop  out  and  leave  College  if  they  cannot. 

Now  these  things  may  not  be  immoral,  and  most  of  them 
may  be  even  desirable,  if  they  did  not  conflict  with  higher 
interests.  But  they  do  powerfully  conflict  with  a  leading 
object  for  which  the  College  was  founded,  viz.,  to  help  young 
men  who  have  no  money  to  obtain  an  education.  They 


210  REMINISCENCES    OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

compel  multitudes  of  such  either  to  avoid  the  College,  or  to  quit 
it  in  mid  course.  They  introduce  in  their  place  another  class  of 
students  who,  though  they  may  be  men  of  excellent  character, 
and  even  professing  Christians,  yet  are  not  looking  to  the  min 
istry  nor  the  missionary  service,  and  therefore  are  not  the  men 
for  whom  the  College  was  expressly  founded.  The  gradually 
decreasing  percentage  of  graduates  who  are  looking  to  the 
ministerial  office,  which  we  have  shown  on  another  page,  shows 
conclusively  how  this  deteriorating  process  is  going  on  as  the 
fruit  of  prosperity.  I  am  afraid  that  it  has  already  advanced 
much  farther  than  either  Trustees  or  officers  imagine.  For  I 
have  told  but  a  small  part  of  the  story.  But  I  have  watched 
these  changes  with  painful  solicitude,  and  with  some  sense  of 
responsibility  ;  for  it  is  in  part  the  fruit  of  my  own  efforts  to 
obtain  funds  for  placing  the  institution  on  the  high  ground  it 
now  occupies. 


SCENERY.  211 


SECTION    VII. 

SCENEJIY   AND    GEOLOGY. 
I.  —  SCENERY. 

The  Connecticut  Valley  is  justly  celebrated  for  the  beauty 
of  its  scenery  over  an  extent  of  more  than  two  hundred 
miles  long  and  of  varying  width.  I  include  the  hills  and 
mountain  ridges  that  border  the  intervals  or  cross  them,  so 
that  in  some  places,  as  in  the  latitude  of  Springfield,  the 
Valley  is  thirty  or  forty  miles  wide.  In  what  latitude  it  is 
most  attractive,  it  might  be  invidious  to  say,  but  none  will 
doubt  that  Amherst  and  its  vicinity  are  eminently  beautiful. 
Nor  will  any  doubt  that  scenery  exerts  an  important  influence 
upon  the  education  of  youth.  It  cultivates  the  taste,  and 
when  grand  and  romantic,  inspires  noble  sentiments  and  pur 
poses.  No  graduate  of  Amherst  ever  forgets  the  inspiration 
of  the  romantic  view  that  opened  upon  him  in  almost  endless 
variety  from  College  Hill,  at  different  seasons  of  the  year. 
So,  too,  there  are  numerous  points  of  deep  scenographic  inter 
est  around  within  half  a  day's  walk  or  ride.  I  have  found 
these  so  numerous  and  so  little  known  that  it  has  been  one 
of  my  pleasant  employments  to  look  them  up,  and  if  possible, 
to  make  them  accessible,  and  to  impose  appropriate  and  taste 
ful  names  upon  them,  so  as  to  make  them  better  known  to 
students.  For  many  have  spent  four  years  in  College  without 
visiting  spots  in  the  immediate  neighborhood,  which  in  after 
life  they  would  think  worth  long  journeys  to  see.  And 
though  I  have  now  resided  in  Amherst  nearly  forty  years,  I 
still  continue  to  find,  within  an  hour's  ride,  spots  which  almost 
any  where  else  would  be  regarded  as  of  high  scenographic 
interest. 


212  REMINISCENCES   OP  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

In  the  work  of  imposing  new  names  upon  hills,  mountains, 
gorges,  rivers  and  bowlders,  I  have  often  called  in  the  aid 
of  the  class  to  which  I  was  lecturing  in  geology,  and  our 
geological  excursions  have  often  had  the  double  object  of 
studying  the  rocks,  and  by  appropriate  speeches  and  ceremo 
nies,  of  naming  some  of  these  objects.  This  would  seem  to 
be  a  very  easy  and  pleasant  undertaking ;  but  I  have  often 
found  it  so  laborious,  and  encountered  such  malignant  opposi 
tion,  that  I  have  again  and  again  resolved  at  the  close  of  our 
excursion  that  I  would  never  attempt  another.  There  is  first, 
the  disturbance  which  the  absence  of  a  class  from  College, 
especially  if  it  extend  beyond  a  day,  produces,  especially  as  I 
have  always  found  classes  disposed  to  make  a  great  deal  of 
noise  and  display  at  starting,  by  taking  their  vehicles  to  the 
College,  and  perhaps  driving  off  with  cheers,  so  that  the 
other  classes  wrould  feel  discontented  to  remain  to  be  drilled 
in  the  recitation-room.  This,  of  course,  prejudices  the  Faculty 
against  such  excursions.  Secondly,  it  gives  an  opportunity 
for  the  unruly  members  of  a  class,  and  presents  a  strong  temp 
tation  to  others,  to  indulge  in  antics,  and  perhaps  immoralities, 
such  as  give  both  the  class  and  the  College  a  bad  name  in  the 
community.  Thirdly,  we  have  sometimes  found  strong  preju 
dices  in  the  region  of  the  mountain  or  other  object  to  be 
named,  against  our  enterprise,  as  if  we  were  intruders,  and 
had  no  right  to  interfere  with  names  that  have  become  vener 
able  by  age,  however  absurd ;  not  so  much,  even,  as  to  pro 
pose  a  change,  which  in  fact  is  all  we  ever  have  done  or 
could  do.  Fourthly,  the  newspapers  have  sometimes  joined 
the  popular  clamor,  and  denounced  us  as  unmannerly  inno 
vators.  Finally,  the  labor  of  preparing  for  such  an  enterprise, 
especially  where  new  paths  must  be  cleared  out.  I  have 
sometimes  spent  nearly  a  week  in  these  preparations,  and  the 
only  reward  which  I  would  get,  (except  in  the  class,)  was 
reproach  and  bad  feeling. 

In  spite  of  these  obstacles,  however,  we  have  persisted  in 
this  effort  up  to  the  present  time,  and  with  marked  success. 


COLLEGE  HILL.  213 

We  have  named  not  less  than  nine  mountains  and  some  other 
objects,  by  formal  excursions  and  set  exercises,  and  I  am  con 
fident  that  most  of  the  names  thus  imposed  will  be  adopted  by 
the  public  and  made  permanent.  I  propose  briefly  to  refer  to 
all  these  mountains  and  other  objects,  as  well  as  to  other  points 
of  scenographic  interest  around  Amherst.  In  a  few  instances 
I  shall  propose  names  for  spots  not  yet  formally  christened. 
The  principles  that  have  guided  us  in  the  invention  of  names 
will  appear  in  some  of  the  details  that  follow.  It  may  be  well, 
however,  to  quote  in  this  place  the  following  sentences  from 
our  Report  on  the  Geology  of  Vermont,  Vol.  I.,  page  394, 
where  an  account  is  given  of  the  naming  of  Eolus.  "  In  order 
to  be  good,  a  name  should  be  derived  from  one  of  three  sources : 
1.  Indian ;  2.  Classical,  that  is,  Greek  or  Latin,  or  Hebraic ; 
3.  Historical.  The  two  first  are  the  best  sources.  Such  a 
name  should  awaken  no  low  or  vulgar  associations.  It  should 
be  one  that  would  be  graceful  and  ennobling  in  poetry,  and  yet 
it  should  be  easily  pronounced  and  appreciated  by  all.  Such 
names  as  Norwottuck,  Nonotuck,  Mettawompe,  Pocomtuc, 
Rock  Rimmon,  Nutonk,  Hygeia,  and  Kilburn  Peak,  answer 
these  conditions,  and  have  been  proposed  by  different  classes 
for  different  mountains.  Eolus  is  eminently  appropriate,  being 
classical,  poetical,  euphonical,  and  suggestive. 

1.     COLLEGE  HILL. 

Strangers  are  much  struck  with  the  great  beauty  of  a  view 
from  this  eminence,  especially  if  they  visit  it  in  balmy  summer, 
when  the  atmosphere  is  often  loaded  with  the  fragrance  of 
flowers,  and  the  eye  delighted  with  the  fresh  green  of  the 
mountain  sides.  But  the  variety  of  aspects  presented  by  the 
landscape  at  different  seasons  of  the  year,  and  at  different  times 
in  the  day,  is  often  very  striking,  and  affords  great  enjoyment  to 
those  on  the  look  out.  The  various  fantastic  shapes  exhibited 
by  the  fog  are  of  deep  interest.  Often  the  trees  and  hills 
emerge  from  it,  and  give  one  a  good  idea  of  the  general  deluge. 
I  have  in  one  or  two  instances  seen  my  own  figure  projected 


214  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

as  a  huge  giant  upon  the  bank  of  fog,  which  I  believe  is  a  rare 
phenomenon. 

Of  course  no  view  from  any  one  point  at  the  base  of  the 
buildings  can  embrace  the  whole  horizon.  A  walk  along  the 
south-west  side  of  the  buildings  which  point  in  that  direction, 
presents  the  finest  view,  and  the  point  along  that  line  which  is 
most  attractive  to  my  eye  is  on  the  terrace  in  front  of  the 
Appleton  Cabinet.  There  the  Holyoke  range  is  shown  in  all 
its  glory. 

If  one  wishes  to  get  a  panoramic  view  of  the  whole  of  the 
edifices  and  of  the  surrounding  country,  he  must  ascend  either 
the  tower  of  the  Library  or  of  the  Johnson  Chapel.  The 
latter  is  the  best,  because  the  highest,  and  open  at  the  top  ; 
but  the  other  forms  a  pleasing  variety  and  is  better  for  getting 
a  view  of  the  College  buildings.  Some  think  much  of  a  view 
from  the  octagonal  window  on  the  second  story  of  the  vestibule 
of  the  Woods  Cabinet,  though  not  intended  for  a  look  out. 

The  views  from  the  East  College  Hill,  where  the  last  dor 
mitory  building  stands,  are  different  from  those  that  have  been 
described,  and  quite  agreeable. 


2.     MOUNT  DOMA.     (<5w^«,  a  dome.) 

This  name  I  apply  to  a  dome-shaped  hill,  half  a  mile  south 
west  of  the  Colleges,  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Alfred  Baker.  It 
affords  the  best  view  that  can  be  found  of  the  edifices,  all  of 
which,  except  the  Gymnasium,  are  in  sight,  and  it  is  a  view 
of  their  fronts.  There  is,  however,  a  spot  about  the  same  dis 
tance  north-east  of  the  Colleges,  at  the  south-west  angle  of 
Mr.  Hill's  grounds,  where  in  the  winter  nearly  all  the  build 
ings  may  be  seen,  and  in  addition,  the  new  High  School, 
which,  with  its  four  towers,  is  quite  imposing  in  appearance. 
With  the  exception  of  Williston  Hall,  it  is  indeed  a  back  side 
view.  But  this  is  of  less  consequence  than  might  be  supposed, 
and  this  view  will  probably  be  preferred  by  some  to  that  from 
Mount  Doma.  This  last  spot  has  been  chosen  by  Mr.  Lincoln 
of  late  for  a  private  residence,  but  room  remains  for  other 


MOUNT  PLEASANT.  215 

dwellings.  For  on  all  sides  it  affords  magnificent  prospects, 
and  needs  only  money  and  good  taste  to  convert  into  one  of 
the  most  attractive  spots  in  the  country. 

3.  MOUNT  PLEASANT. 

Though  this  hill  is  but  little  elevated,  its  south  end  affords 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  residences  in  the  country,  and  is  now 
and  long  has  been  the  seat  of  a  private  school.  The  southern 
view,  with  the  village  in  front,  and  the  Mount  Holyoke  range, 
or  rather  perhaps  I  ought  to  say  the  Norwottuck  range,  peer 
ing  above  it  with  its  serrated  crest,  is  extremely  picturesque. 
Norwottuck,  Holyoke  and  Tom  are  all  in  sight,  being  only 
prominent  points  of  the  same  trap  range,  and  on  a  clear  day 
the  prospect  down  the  Connecticut  Valley,  where  Mount  Tom 
seems  to  unite  with  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Hoosac  range  of 
mountains,  is  superb.  The  Colleges  are  seen  from  Mount 
Pleasant  only  on  their  flank,  yet  they  form  very  agreeable 
objects. 

As  a  matter  of  taste,  I  have  always  felt  disposed  to  find 
fault  with  the  name  of  this  hill,  just  because  it  seems  to  me 
too  flat  and  devoid  of  originality.  But  as  it  cannot  now  be 
changed  for  a  better,  I  propose  to  apply  the  same  name  in  the 
comparative  degree,  to  a  neighboring  hill  which  as  a  matter 
of  fact  is  perhaps  more  elevated. 

4.  MOUNT  PLEASANTER. 
Immediately  east  of  Mount  Pleasant  is  a  valley  not  very 

deep,  and  east  of  this  rises  another  hill  having  the  same  gen 
eral  shape,  and  like  Mount  Pleasant  still  covered  with  forest. 
This  last  hill  is  three  hundred  and  two  feet  above  Connecticut 
River,  and  Mount  Pleasanter,  three  hundred  and  twenty-nine 
feet.  On  its  south  slope,  where  an  unfrequented  road  crosses 
it,  is  decidedly  the  best  spot  that  I  know  of  for  getting  a  view 
of  Amherst,  of  the  Holyoke  range  and  the  grand  cul  de  sac 
that  extends  south  of  Northampton.  The  spot  is  superior  to 
Mount  Pleasant  for  this  view,  and  hence  I  call  it  Mount 


216  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

Pleasanter.  It  is  perhaps  the  best  place  left  near  the  centre 
of  Amherst  for  a  private  residence  or  a  public  institution, 
unless  the  more  panoramic  view  from  Mount  Doma  should 
form  a  stronger  attraction.  I  trust  that  the  present  proprietor 
of  Mount  Pleasanter  (Mr.  Dickinson)  will  never  suffer  the 
grove  that  now  covers  it  to  be  cut  down,  and  thus  take  away 
not  only  half  its  pecuniary  value  but  much  of  its  scenographic 
interest. 

This  is  the  spot  of  all  others  to  which  the  citizens  of 
Amherst  should  take  strangers  if  they  would  give  them  a  fair 
view  of  the  scenery  of  the  town. 

5.     THE  OCCIDENT. 

Immediately  west  of  College  Hill  is  a  north  and  south 
valley  extending  through  the  town,  and  probably  in  ancient 
times  a  bed  of  Connecticut  River.  On  the  west  side  of  this 
valley,  opposite  the  Colleges,  is  a  gradual  rise  which  spreads 
out  into  a  sort  of  plateau,  and  still  farther  west  the  land  rises 
into  Mount  Warner.  Along  the  plateau  runs  the  old  road  to 
Hadley,  and  looking  easterly  we  have  a  very  fine  view  of 
Amherst  West  Parish  with  the  Colleges.  As  it  is  only  two 
miles  west  of  the  village  it  makes  a  pleasant  drive  for  the 
visitor  who  would  look  at  our  fine  scenery  from  different  points. 
I  have  called  this  swell  of  land  the  Occident  simply  because  it 
lies  west  of  the  Colleges. 

6.    MOUNT  WARNER. 

Continuing  gradually  to  ascend,  west  and  north-west  from 
the  Occident,  we  reach  the  rocky  elevation  called  Mount 
Warner,  in  Hadley,  and  not  far  from  the  east  bank  of  Con 
necticut  River,  and  perhaps  somewhat  over  three  hundred 
feet  above  the  river.  Rising  thus  in  one  of  the  richest  and 
most  romantic  parts  of  the  valley,  it  presents  a  panorama  of 
unsurpassed  loveliness.  The  north  end  of  the  hill  is,  indeed, 
yet  covered  with  woods,  and  therefore  the  view  in  that  direc 
tion — the  least  important  quarter — is  obstructed.  But  on  the 


THE   GOLDEN   GATE.  217 

east  and  south-east  you  have  Amherst  and  Belchertown,  and 
the  Pelham  Hills;  on  the  south,  the  Holyoke  and  Tom 
Range;  on  the  south-west,  Northampton  and  Easthampton, 
and  Hadley,  with  their  rich  surrounding  meadows;  on  the 
west,  close  beneath  you,  lies  quiet  Hatfield,  and  a  little  farther 
north,  the  village  of  Whately ;  and  behind  them  both  rise  the 
hills  that  make  the  eastern  border  of  the  Hoosac  Range. 
Directly  beneath  you  flows  the  beautiful  Connecticut,  visible 
northerly,  in  a  straight  line,  almost  up  to  Sugar-Loaf,  in  Deer- 
field,  rising  as  nature's  buttress  to  cut  off  the  view  in  that 
direction,  while  to  the  south,  the  river  forms  many  wide  and 
graceful  curves,  and  finally  disappears  between  Holyoke  and 
Tom.  In  fine,  the  view  from  this  summit  is  in  some  respects 
more  complete  than  from  Holyoke  or  Nonotuck,  and  were  it 
only  more  difficult  of  access,  it  would  be  a  place  of  great  resort. 
But  now  it  is  rarely  visited.  It  is  strange  to  me  that  the 
people  of  Amherst,  especially,  take  so  little  interest  in  this 
spot,  when  a  good  road,  only  three  miles  long,  brings  them  near 
the  summit ;  and  it  would  require  but  a  slight  amount  of  labor 
to  open  a  carriage  road  to  the  top.  Indeed,  one  already 
exists,  but  is  fenced  up. 

7.     THE  GOLDEN  GATE. 

The  proper  way  to  visit  this  spot  is  to  go  to  that  village  in 
North  Amherst  called  the  City,  and  from  thence  to  follow 
down  a  small  stream  westerly.  For  a  mile  or  two  it  has 
formed  a  romantic  gorge,  along  which  the  road  has  been  cut. 
At  length  the  stream  seems  to  terminate  in  a  beautiful  pond, 
covering  a  few  acres,  and  surrounded  by  high  and  steep  hills 
on  every  side  but  the  west,  where  an  opening  appears  between 
two  gigantic  buttresses  of  granite ;  and  if  we  reach  the  spot 
just  before  sunset,  in  a  clear  and  quiet  day,  the  pond,  the 
opening  and  the  region  to  the  west  far  off  seems  full  of  golden 
glory.  Hence  the  name  I  propose.  The  fact  is,  the  stream 
passes  through  this  gate,  across  which  an  artificial  dam  has 
been  built  for  supplying  a  factory  village  below  with  water- 
10 


218  REMINISCENCES    OF    AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

power.  The  view  of  the  fall  below,  looking  easterly,  is  not 
without  interest.  But  standing  back  of  the  full  and  looking 
through  the  gate  westerly,  under  the  circumstances  just 
specified,  it  is  far  more  striking. 

8.  THE  CRESCENT. 

If  we  ascend  the  hill  curving  around  the  north  end  of  the 
pond  above  described,  we  shall  find  it  an  extraordinary  struc 
ture.  Though  sixty  or  seventy  feet  high,  and  apparently 
composed  essentially  of  sand  and  gravel,  its  sides  are  almost 
too  steep  for  ascending.  If  we  wind  our  way  along  its  inside 
we  see  nothing  but  the  pond  on  our  right,  but  on  reaching  the 
crest  we  find  ourselves  upon  a  ridge  only  four  or  five  rods 
wide,  curving  around  the  pond  and  disclosing  a  splendid  pano 
rama  of  the  Connecticut  Valley,  especially  of  North  Amherst, 
Mount  Warner,  the  Holyoke  range,  and  in  close  proximity, 
Mount  Taurus  and  Mettawompe  on  the  north.  Such  an 
unexpected  development,  with  such  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water 
embosomed  within,  and  so  singular  a  geological  formation 
beneath  our  feet,  makes  this  a  most  attractive  spot ;  and  yet, 
so  little  celebrated  has  it  been  in  Amherst,  that  I  had  lived 
thirty-six  years  in  the  town  before  I  heard  of  it. 

This  ridge  goes  frequently  by  the  name  of  Pulpit  Hill. 
But  such  a  name  could  never  be  introduced  into  poetry,  and 
besides,  if  this  were  a  pulpit,  there  is  no  place  for  the  preacher 
to  stand  but  in  the  water,  which  might  indeed  not  unaptly 
represent  the  condition  of  many  ministers,  if  the  lake  were 
thermal.  But  we  propose  a  name  which  avoids  such  unpleas 
ant  associations. 

9.  MOUNT  CASTOR. 

We  pass  now  a  mile  south  of  the  Colleges  on  the  road 
to  the  South  Parish,  and  half  a  mile  before  reaching  the 
South  Church  we  find  on  our  left  a  small,  rounded  eminence, 
which  is  cleared  and  opens  from  its  top  one  of  the  most  lovely 
panoramas  which  nature  has  formed.  All  around  vou  is  a 


CASTOR  AND   POLLUX.  219 

cleared  valley  and  beyond  this  rises  a  wall  of  beautiful  moun 
tains  ;  on  the  east  the  Pelham  Hills,  on  the  south  Norwottuck 
and  Holyoke,  on  the  west  the  Hoosac  ridges,  and  on  the  north 
Mettawompe,  Mount  Taurus,  Sugar-Loaf,  and  far  off  in  the 
north-west  some  of  the  peaks  of  the  Green  Mountains.  The 
immediate  vicinity  is  full  of  villages  and  cultivated  fields,  and 
on  the  north  the  Colleges  loom  up  finely.  To  look  off  from 
such  an  eminence  would  be  an  ample  reward  for  a  day's  jour 
ney  ;  and  yet,  I  lived  thirty-four  years  within  two  miles  of  the 
spot  and  did  not  hear  of  it,  and  though  passing  it  frequently, 
I  did  not  think  it  worth  visiting.  Such  indifference  to  spots 
so  beautiful  is  not  to  be  imputed  to  a  want  of  intelligence  and 
taste  in  the  community,  but  simply  because  they  are  so  numer 
ous,  or  rather  there  are  so  many  other  spots  in  the  region 
which  have  so  much  higher  reputation  as  to  cause  these  to  be 
overlooked. 

This  eminence  is  composed  entirely  of  gravel,  the  rounded 
fragments  being  sometimes  nearly  a  foot  in  diameter.  How 
they  were  piled  up  in  this  dome-like  form  to  the  height  of 
200  or  300  feet  is  one  of  the  most  difficult  problems  to  solve 
in  all  geology.  I  know  of  no  solution  that  approximates  to 
probability  save  that  which  supposes  the  whole  region  to  have 
been  once  filled  with  the  same  materials  to  the  same  height, 
and  that  they  were  subsequently  removed  by  aqueous  agency 
from  the  present  depressions. 

10.'    MOUNT  POLLUX. 

Nearly  a  mile  south  of  Castor  is  another  rounded  gravelly 
hill  of  the  same  shape,  and  though  a  little  higher,  perhaps, 
and  the  materials  a  little  coarser,  the  two  hills  are  so  nearly 
twins  that  the  names,  Castor  and  Pollux — the  mythological 
twins — was  suggested  as  soon  as  I  had  visited  .them.  I  think 
the  panorama  rather  the  finest  around  Castor,  because  you 
seem  there  nearer  the  centre  of  the  circle  and  are  nearer  to 
the  College  and  the  villages.  Yet  the  proximity  of  Pollux  to 
Norwottuck  produces  an  agreeable  effect  on  the  beholder. 


220  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

Thus  far,  with  the  exception  of  Mount  Warner,  all  the  hills 
we  have  described  are  composed  of  modified  drift,  that  is, 
gravel  and  sand,  and  of  course  are  not  of  much  height,  nor 
very  far  distant  from  the  College.  We  now  extend  our  views 
to  a  wider  circle,  embracing  the  rocky  ranges  that  surround 
Amherst. 

11.     MOUNT  HOLYOKE. 

So  extensively  known  is  this  eminence,  and  so  often  has  it 
been  described,  that  any  new  attempt  of  this  sort  is  unneces 
sary.  So  far  as  I  recollect,  however,  the  building  of  a  road 
along  the  western  face  of  the  ledges  was  the  first  of  those 
mountain  excursions  that  have  since  been  so  common  from 
the  College,  and  therefore  some  description  of  the  occasion 
may  be  desirable. 

The  history  of  this  eifort  is  as  follows : — Formerly  the  only 
foot-path  up  the  side  of  the  mountain  passed  almost  at  right 
angles  to  the  side  and  was  very  steep  and  rough.  In  the 
autumn  of  1844  I  happened  to  be  in  the  woods  near  where 
this  foot-path  terminated,  studying  a  large  trap  bowlder  lying 
there  as  late  as  November.  Supposing  the  period  of  visiting 
the  moTmtain  to  be  past,  I  was  greatly  surprised  to  find  a 
fleshy  gentleman  working  his  way  from  the  top  down  the 
foot-path,  and  as  he  reached  the  bottom  he  complained  bitterly 
of  the  rough  road,  and  his  torn  garments  bore  testimony  to 
the  severity  of  his  scramble.  I  found  him  to  be  a  foreigner, 
from  the  West  Indies  I  thought.  Looking  up  to  the  almost 
perpendicular  side  of  the  mountain  a  new  thought  struck  me 
and  I  said,  "I  believe  I  could  make  a  path  obliquely  along 
that  mountain  which  should  be  easy  of  ascent."  "Well," 
said  the  gentleman,  "  you  Yankees  can  do  almost  any  thing, 
but  I  do  not  believe  you  can  make  a  road  there."  The  next 
season,  however,  I  made  a  reconnoissance  and  satisfied  myself 
that  the  work  was  feasible,  though  difficult.  On  stating  my 
plan  to  Miss  Lyon,  Principal  of  Ilolyoke  Female  Seminary, 
she  offered  to  meet  us  at  twelve  o'clock,  at  the  foot  of  the 
mountain,  with  a  dinner  provided  by  her  pupils,  after  we  had 


ROAD   UP  HOLYOKE.  221 

completed  the  road.  Under  such  circumstances  it  was  not 
difficult  to  awaken  the  enthusiasm  of  my  geological  —  then,  I 
believe,  the  Senior  Class.  But  fearful  that  the  work  would 
prove  too  much  for  them,  we  extended  an  invitation  to  the 
junior  class  to  join  us,  and  it  was  accepted.  We  also,  through 
the  newspapers,  invited  the  citizens  who  live  around  the 
mountain  to  meet  us  with  axe  and  spade  in  hand.  But  just 
before  the  appointed  day,  which  was  the  4th  of  July,  1845, 
we  learnt  that  though  they  were  quite  friendly  to  the  enter 
prise,  they  did  not  care  to  take  hold  of  it,  because  instead  of 
one-half  day,  it  would,  in  their  opinion,  require  a  fortnight  of 
labor,  and  they  did  not  like  to  fail  and  be  laughed  at.  Neither 
did  we.  When  the  morning  came  I  told  the  classes  that  we 
must  either  make  that  path  before  noon  or  expect  to  be  ridi 
culed.  Out  of  my  scanty  stock  of  Greek  I  also  quoted  a  few 
lines  from  Hesiod,  as  a  motto  for  the  day  :  — 

Oj  K'fpyov  ftfhTwv  tOnv  aviate  V^auvoi 
i  iraKTaivuv    s 


(Who  mindful  of  his  work,  draws  a  strait  furrow  :  nor  looks 
around  among  his  companions,  but  keeps  his  mind  upon  his  work.) 

We  were  promptly  on  the  ground,  and  never  did  I  see  a 
body  of  men  go  into  any  enterprise  with  such  a  will  and  with 
better  success.  Before  eleven  o'clock  the  road  was  so  far 
opened  that  a  gentleman  rode  horseback  over  it,  and  by  twelve 
o'clock  the  young  men  had  the  work  finished  and  had  made 
their  toilet  as  well  as  they  could  with  nothing  but  rocks  for  a 
mirror,  and  were  ready  to  descend  and  meet  the  Holyoke 
ladies  with  their  dinner  ready  by  the  welcome  spring.  This 
disposed  of,  the  whole  party  ascended  the  mountain  where 
several  gentlemen  made  addresses  and  toasts  were  offered. 
Some  of  these  I  will  copy  as  a  sample  of  the  style  of  these 
mountain  addresses. 

"  Prof.  Shepard  congratulated  the  Senior  Class  of  Amherst  College, 
on  the  successful  achievement  of  cutting  a  horse-path  to  the  summit 


222  REMINISCENCES   OP  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

of  Mt.  Holyoke  ;  and  entertained  no  doubt  but  that  the  exploit  woittd 
keep  the  memory  of  the  class  fresh  in  the  public  mind,  until  they 
should  be  able  to  work  out  for  themselves,  at  no  distant  day,  more 
distinguished  roads  in  the  wide  theatre  of  the  world,  upon  which  they 
are  just  about  to  enter.  In  this  severer  struggle  which  awaited  them, 
he  hoped  they  would,  as  now,  be  aided  by  the  assistance  of  Junior 
companions,  and  cheered  by  the  approval  of  the  fair. 

«'  He  would  not  be  understood,  however,  as  undervaluing  the  pres 
ent  exploit.  On  the  contrary,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  compare  it  to 
Napoleon's  great  road  across  the  Alps.  For  although  the  Simplon 
way  was  longer,  in  roods,  and  consequently  in  the  time  of  its  con 
struction,  yet  when  we  look  at  the  objects  aimed  at  in  the  two  works, 
the  speaker  was  of  opinion  that  there  was  more  to  be  proud  of  in  the 
Mt.  Holyoke  road  than  in  that  of  the  Alps. 

"The  French  chieftain,  (he  said,)  by  his  work  sought  only  a  speedy 
transit  for  the  myrmidons  of  war,  and  their  fell  machines  of  death, 
wherewith  he  might  go  thundering  down  upon  the  peaceful  vales  of 
Italy,  while  you  aspire  to  a  more  beneficent  result  —  you  aim  to 
smooth  some  of  those  asperities  with  which  this  proud  eminence  has 
heretofore  surrounded  herself,  whereby  she  has  repulsed  the  approach 
of  all  who  were  not  possessed  of  leisure  and  strength,  and  to  throw 
open  the  pleasures  of  the  scene  to  troops  of  grateful  persons,  who 
else  would  forever  be  debarred  the  rich  feast  of  which  we  now  par 
take.  Henceforth,  with  showers  of  blessings  on  your  heads,  will 
ascend  to  this  most  commanding  eyrie  of  the  Connecticut  Valley,  the 
hurried  traveller,  the  wan  invalid,  prattling  childhood,  and  even  hoary 
age ;  while  maiden  beauty,  no  more  toiling  over  uncertain  foot-paths, 
and  up  steep  acclivities,  will  with  flowing  robe,  and  plumed  hat,  be 
attended  hither  by  gallant  knight  on  prancing  steed. 

44  Prof.  Shepard  then  adverted  to  some  of  the  changes  which  have 
transpired  in  the  surrounding  scenery,  and  industry  of  the  people, 
during  the  past  twenty  years.  But  what  struck  him  with  the  most 
astonishment,  was  to  discover  that  even  the  old  Connecticut  herself, 
which  for  ages  had  held  on  the  even  tenor  of  her  way,  had  seemingly 
caught  the  spirit  of  improvement,  and  of  her  own  accord  ceased  to 
flow  round  the  Ox-bow,  as  when  he  last  looked  down  upon  her,  and 
now  hastens  her  waters  forward  to  the  sea,  in  one  hour  less  of  time 
each  day,  than  she  was  wont  to  do  before  —  relinquishing  her  ancient 
bed  for  the  benefit  of  a  railroad  company  !  Who  shall  say,  (he 
asked,)  what  is  destined  to  transpire  during  the  coming  year,  when 
the  naiads  of  that  stream,  as  it  courses  the  luxuriant  meadows  of 
lladley  and  Northampton,  shall  hear  for  the  first  time  the  harsh 


PROFESSOR  SHEPARD'S  SPEECH.  223 

clattering  of  the  locomotive,  or  its  more  piercing  whistle,  warning  all 
travellers  to  stop  ? 

"What  would  be  the  astonishment,  (he  inquired,)  of  some  of  our 
good  ancestors  of  the  last  century,  could  they  revisit  for  a  moment 
the  scene  before  us!  Why,  in  1738,  in  place  of  the  roads  which  at 
present  are  everywhere  so  abundant  in  the  Connecticut  Valley,  that 
their  very  number  bewilders  the  traveller,  they  had  scarce  any  other 
highway,  than  the  now  almost  neglected  bosom  of  the  Connecticut 
herself  1  What  would  that  reverend  patriarch,  Peter  Powers,  the  first 
pastor  of  the  church  of  Haverhill,  N.  H.,  think,  who  made  his  paro 
chial  visits  and  journeys  in  his  canoe  ;  and  who  for  want  of  roads, 
had  to  go  over  to  Hollis  to  get  a  council  to  ordain  him,  and  then  to 
row  himself  back,  and  preach  his  own  ordination  sermon  !  Whatever 
might  have  been  the  grievances  between  pastor  and  people  in  those 
heroic  days,  there  was  a  better  chance  than  at  present  for  keeping  up 
their  connections  with  each  other,  since  no  roads  existed  for  dismiss 
ing  councils  to  come  in  upon  ;  and  if  a  clergyman  could  preach  his 
own  ordination  sermon,  he  also  had  an  opportunity  of  using  his  own 
discretion  in  the  matter  of  dismissing  himself. 

"How  strange  too  was  the  dilemma  in  which  betrothed  lovers  were 
placed  in  those  days,  who,  living  near  the  river-bank,  were  forced  to 
watch  the  passing  canoe,  in  order  to  get  therefrom  a  clergyman  to  tie 
the  marriage  knot !  It  is  related  of  the  same  patriarch,  that  as  he  was 
passing  by  the  town  of  Hanover,  (twenty- seven  miles  below  his  own 
place,)  he  was  hailed  from  the  river-bank  by  a  messenger  put  there 
for  the  special  purpose,  to  know  when  he  would  be  ascending  the 
river,  and  whether  he  would  stop  and  marry  Mr.  Walbridge  to 
Hannah  Smith,  a  proposition  to  which  he  readily  agreed  ;  and  when 
the  appointed  day  and  hour  arrived,  true  as  a  railroad  train  in  these 
days,  the  parson  had  paddled  himself  back  to  Hanover,  and  was 
ready  to  perform  the  welcome  ceremony. 

«« He  spoke  of  the  great  increase,  within  twenty  years,  of  the  broom- 
corn  culture,  eulogized  the  new  staple,  and  in  particular  the  broom 
itself.  He  related  the  following  anecdote  respecting  the  enterprise  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Hadley.  Some  years  ago,  soon  after  Rev.  Mr. 
Adam,  who  was  a  Scottish  clergyman,  had  been  settled  at  Amherst, 
he  took  a  ride  over  to  Hadley,  and  there  meeting  a  man  just  setting 
off  with  a  load  of  brooms,  he  had  the  curiosity  to  ask  him  what  those 
commodities  were  in  his  cart,  for  Mr.  Adam  was  quite  ignorant  of 
the  broom,  having  passed  much  of  his  life  as  a  missionary  at  Benares, 
in  Hindostan.  The  honest  farmer,  as  may  easily  be  supposed,  gave 
him  a  stare  of  the  profoundest  curiosity  at  his  question,  following  it 


224  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

immediately  by  the  inquiry,  'Where  are  you  from,  that  you  never 
saw  a  Hadley  broom  ? '  The  Scotchman,  with  characteristic  brevity, 
replied,  « I  have  been  living  at  Benares.'  « Benares,'  exclaimed  the 
interested  farmer,  « where  is  Benares  ?  tell  me  sir,  if  you  please  ;  for 
it  must  be  an  excellent  place  to  take  my  brooms.' 

"He  also  thought  that  the  Amherst  students  had  succeeded  by  their 
labors  of  this  day,  in  recommending  themselves  to  these  practical 
personages  across  the  ridge.  If  the  young  ladies  take  a  pride  in 
wielding  the  broom,  it  is  certainly  fitting  that  the  collegians  should 
not  forget  the  use  of  the  crowbar,  the  axe  and  the  spade.  And  while 
he  desired  for  both  parties  every  attainable  refinement  of  feeling,  and 
of  manners,  he  still  hoped  that  both  would  continue  to  cherish  a 
proper  regard  for  these  homely,  though  useful  instruments  of  life. 
And  although  in  the  onward  career  of  taste,  it  may  yet  occur  that  the 
lofty  roof  of  the  Mt.  Holyoke  Seminary,  (already  the  most  splendid 
edifice  of  the  kind  in  America,)  should  be  studded  over  with  trophies 
of  art  —  though  the  statues  of  the  graces  and  the  sacred  nine  should 
uprise  from  that  high  over-looking  platform,  —  although  the  huntress 
Dian,  « the  silver-shafted  queen,'  with  her  dread  bow,  or  Minerva, 

4  With  snaky-headed  Gorgon  shield, 
Wherewith  she  froze  her  foes  to  stone, 
Whose  noble  grace  dashed  brute  violence 
With  sudden  admiration  and  blank  awe '  — 

should  these,  and  more,  from  the  Sculptor's  hand  adorn  the  site,  ho 
still  hoped  that  some  native  Foicers  or  Greenovgh  would  give  us  in 
polished  marble,  for  the  most  commanding  pedestal,  the  maid  of  the 
Connecticut,  who,  while  she  might  outvie  Juno's  self  by  her  accent, 
lofty  and  elated  mien,  would  still  grasp  in  one  hand  the  tidy,  industrial 
emblem  of  the  broom  —  not  to  proclaim,  indeed,  as  did  the  proud  duke 
of  Danville,  when  with  a  broom  at  his  mast-head,  one  hundred  years 
ago,  he  crossed  the  ocean  with  a  powerful  fleet  against  these  colonies, 
that  the  land  should  be  swept  with  the  besom  of  destruction,  but 
simply  to  denote  that  industry,  neatness  and  order,  are  the  law  of  the 
institution. 

"  Prof.  Fiske,  who  was  perfectly  acquainted  with  the  history  of  the 
Connecticut  Valley,  entertained  the  company  with  lively  sketches  of 
scenes  which  had  taken  place  in  it  at  various  periods.  He  spoke  of 
the  Valley  as  it  was  in  the  time  of  the  landing  from  the  Mayflower, 
with  its  two  patches  of  cleared  ground  —  of  the  scene  at  Bloody 
Brook,  at  Hadley,  &c.  His  address  was  full  of  interest  and  instruc 
tion,  transporting  his  hearers  back  to  other  times,  and  reminding  them 


PROFESSOR  HITCHCOCK'S  SPEECH.  225 

of  another  race  which  then  inhabited  this  beautiful  Valley,  and  other 
scenes  quite  unlike  those  which  are  now  occurring." 
"Dr.  Hitchcock  spoke  nearly  as  follows  :  — 

"  'Some  scenes  in  one's  experience  have  so  much  of  romance  in 
them,  that  we  never  could  be  made  to  believe  beforehand  they  would 
ever  occur.  To  be  called  to  address  an  audience  on  the  top  of  IIol- 
yoke,  and  among  them  one  hundred  and  fifty  ladies,  seems  in  my 
history  more  like  a  dream  than  a  reality.  Yet,  if  it  be  a  dream,  it  is 
a  very  pleasant  one.  With  such  a  scene  to  stimulate  me,  ladies  and 
gentlemen,  you  may  expect  a  labored  and  finished  address  from  me, 
announced  as  it  was  unfortunately  and  without  my  knowledge  in  the 
papers  ;  but  I  assure  you  that  I  shall  only  make  a  few  plain  sugges 
tions,  respecting  the  formation  of  the  broad  Valley  that  lies  spread  out 
beneath  us,  in  almost  unearthly  beauty.  I  mean  its  geological  forma 
tion.  I  have  been  for  many  years  looking  at  the  geological  structure 
of  my  native  Valley,  and  have  come  to  certain  conclusions  respecting 
the  manner  in  which  it  was  originally  formed  and  has  been  subse 
quently  modified.' 

"  He  then  went  on  to  describe  the  five  great  steps  in  the  formation 
of  the  Valley  —  telling  how  in  the  far-off  time,  when  no  valley  existed, 
the  primary  strata  were  broken  down  by  lateral  pressure ;  how  the 
ocean  rushed  in  across  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts ;  and  how,  at 
the  close  of  this  period,  the  Creator  enlivened  the  barren  shores  with 
animal  and  vegetable  life. 

"  He  told  how,  in  the  second  place,  the  action  of  rivers  upon  its 
sides  filled  up  the  estuary  as  high  as  the  level  of  Sugar-Loaf  and  Mt. 
Toby,  with  a  deposit  of  sandstone,  in  the  lower  beds  of  which  there 
are  no  evidences  of  life,  but  in  the  upper  are  found  fishes,  and  numer 
ous  tracks  of  birds  and  quadrupeds,  with  land  plants. 

"The  third  important  change,  he  said,  was  produced  by  volcanic 
action ;  by  this  Mts.  Holyoke  and  Tom,  and  the  other  trap  ranges 
were  produced  ;  the  strata  of  sandstone  were  also  tilted  up,  as  the 
tracks  show,  and  a  breach  was  made  for  the  Connecticut  between  Mt. 
Holyoke  and  Tom.  The  action  of  water  produced  the  fourth  great 
modification  of  the  Valley.  This  removed  a  large  part  of  the  sand 
stone,  leaving  the  green-stone,  because  too  hard  to  be  acted  upon  by 
the  water.  The  ocean  first  wearing  back  to  Sugar-Loaf  and  Mt.  Toby, 
then  the  diluvial  agency  sweeping  on  the  detritus  southerly,  in  scoop 
ing  out  the  valleys  upon  Holyoke  and  Tom.  Then  the  Valley  being 
mostly  above  the  ocean,  a  series  of  lakes  would  be  formed  ;  and  he 
explained  how  the  Connecticut  was  formed,  filling  up  and  draining  off, 
until  it  assumed  its  present  level.  '  And  finally,'  continued  the  Pres- 
10* 


226  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

ident,  « the  latest  geological  agency  that  has  operated  on  the  Valley  of 
the  Connecticut,  is  the  united  physical  forces  of  the  Senior  and  Junior 
classes  of  Amhcrst  College.  This  is  undoubtedly  a  new  force  in 
geological  dynamics,  and  all  visitors  to  Holyoke  will  hereafter  see 
that  it  is  a  very  powerful  force.  Geologists  will  undoubtedly  intro 
duce  it  into  their  future  works,  as  a  most  important  agency  in  produc 
ing  erosions,  (in  vulgar  language  called  horse-paths,)  on  the  sides  of 
mountains.  It  will  probably  constitute  a  new  branch  of  geotogy,  for 
which  I  propose  the  name  of  Holyoponics,  which  I  translate  to  be  the 
"  Science  of  building  a  road  up  Mt.  Holyolte  for  ponies."  ' 

"After  the  entertainment  which  was  prepared  by  the  ladies  of 
South  Hadley  Female  Seminary,  many  sentiments  were  proposed, 
which  we  have  not  room  to  give." 

If  we  follow  the  crest  of  Holyoke  southerly  from  the  pros 
pect  house,  we  shall  find  it  extremely  rougli  and  irregular, 
with  no  footpath  to  guide  us.  But  occasionally  unique  and 
fine  views  will  open  southerly  and  westerly,  and  especially  one 
attracted  our  attention  when  we  look  out  southerly  from 
between  two  ledges  half  a  mile  or  more  south  of  the  house. 
Here,  if  we  can  work  our  way  down  the  almost  perpendicular 
west  face  of  the  mountain,  we  shall  find  some  peculiar  phe 
nomena  well  worthy  the  attention  of  visitors,  yet  but  little 
visited. 

12.     TITAN'S  PIAZZA. 

I  refer  to  an  arrangement  of  the  trap  into  columns  standing 
nearly  perpendicular  with  the  lower  part  of  some  of  the  outer 
rows  worn  away  and  strewed  in  a  steep  talus  below,  while 
the  upper  parts  of  the  columns  at  the  lower  end  are  worn  into 
the  shape  of  a  paraboloid,  or  even  have  become  lenticular,  so 
that  you  seem  to  stand  beneath  a  projecting  mass  of  hexagonal 
iron  kettles  forming  the  roof  of  a  piazza.  The  appearance 
extends  for  several  rods  along  the  cliff,  and  so  far  as  I  know, 
is  unique  among  the  phenomena  of  trap-rocks.  It  is  best 
reached  by  ascending  from  the  west  side  over  the  loose 
fragments. 


NORWOTTUCK   NAMED.  227 

13.     TITAN'S  PIER. 

Following  the  west  face  of  the  ridge  southerly,  about  half  a 
mile,  we  come  to  where  it  passes  under  Connecticut  River. 
Here  are  precipices  from  twenty  to  fifty  feet  high,  of  naked 
rock,  showing  an  imperfect  columnar  structure.  This  I  call 
Titan's  Pier.  Where  the  tops  of  the  columns  are  broken 
off  they  are  more  perfect  than  I  have  elsewhere  seen  in  the 
Connecticut  Valley,  and  smaller  too,  bearing  a  nearer  resem 
blance  to  those  at  the  Giant's  Causeway. 

14.     THE  GEOLOGIST'S  DELL. 

A  few  rods  west  of  the  public  road,  where  it  passes  through 
a  deep  cut  in  the  rock  that  forms  the  most  southern  spur  of 
Titan's  Pier,  is  a  beautiful  amphitheatre,  surrounded  on  all 
sides  by  walls  of  trap,  except  towards  the  south-west,  where  it 
opens  upon  the  Connecticut,  and  is  only  a  few  feet  above  it, 
forming  one  of  the  most  delightful  dells  that  I  ever  saw. 
Thousands  of  people  might  here  be  arranged  within  sound  of 
a  speaker's  voice,  so  that  no  place  could  be  more  eligible  for 
Sabbath  school  gatherings,  picnics,  political  meetings,  &c. 
With  a  few  canoes  in  front,  delightful  sails  could  be  had  upon 
the  smooth  Connecticut.  On  the  east  side  issues  a  good 
spring,  and  I  have  usually  made  this  spot  a  stopping  place  for 
a  lunch  on  geological  excursions  with  classes.  Hence  the 
name  which  I  propose  for  it. 

15.    NORWOTTUCK. 

The  next  year  (1846,)  after  we  had  made  the  road  up 
Holyoke,  another  fourth  of  July  excursion  was  got  up  to 
impose  a  name  upon  the  highest  point  in  the  Holyoke  Range, 
several  miles  to  the  east,  and  about  a  mile  east  of  the  road 
from  Amherst  to  Granby  and  South  Hadley,  through  the 
Notch.  A  very  good  report  of  the  ceremonies  and  the 
speeches  on  that  occasion,  appeared  in  the  "  Hampshire  and 
Franklin  Express,"  a  part  of  which  I  copy : — 


228  REMINISCENCES   OF  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

"  About  eleven  o'clock,  some  five  hundred  persons  had  collected, 
and  after  being  seated  upon  the  rocks,  or  wherever  a  convenient 
place  could  be  found,  Mr.  Leonard  Humphrey,  of  the  Senior  Class, 
president  of  the  day,  addressed  them  nearly  as  follows  : — 

"Ladies  and  Gentlemen, — A  custom  venerable  by  its  age  has 
secured  to  the  discoverer  and  the  conqueror  the  right  of  giving 
name  to  the  territory  he  has  preoccupied  or  subdued.  By  virtue 
of  this  usage,  the  Senior  Class  of  Amherst  College  claim  such  a 
right  over  this  majestic  mountain.  We  may  not  be  allowed  to  base 
our  claim  upon  discovery,  but,  surely,  we  may  upon  conquest.  Is 
proof  wanted?  "We  point  to  the  track  of  the  army  with  all  its 
marks  of  conquering  and  resistless  progress  ;  to  the  bowlder  tribes, 
even  routed  from  their  strongholds,  and  skulking  in  terror  by  the 
wayside ;  to  these  gashed  and  mangled  limbs :  these  headless  and 
prostrate  trunks ;  all  these  are  witnesses  for  us  that  our  foot  and 
the  axe  of  the  conqueror  have  been  here.  But  apart  from  the  ques 
tion  of  our  lawful  right  by  established  usage,  we  know  of  no  cause 
in  justice  why  this  should  not  be  crowned  with  title  and  glory  like 
earth's  other  giants.  Is  it  too  humble  in  stature,  towering  as  it  does, 
1,120  feet  above  old  stormy  Neptune,  1,026  feet  above  the  tranquil 
Connecticut,  and  not  less  than  100  feet  above  its  proud  sister  Hol- 
yokc,  whose  fame  has  encircled  half  the  globe  ?  With  such  com 
manding  height,  with  an  ascent  on  either  side  so  comparatively  easy, 
to  a  summit  girt  with  such  varied  magnificence,  no  reason  can  be 
given  why  this  noble  mountain  has  been  '  unknown  to  fame,'  save 
that  which  must  account  for  the  strange  caprice  with  which  the 
world  has  always  treated  greatness,  and  for  its  present  stubborn 
neglect  of  half  the  great  men  and  things  it  contains. 

"  We  have  been  peculiarly  fortunate,  we  think,  in  discovering  an 
appropriate  name,  through  the  generous  assistance  of  Dr.  Hitchcock 
and  one  or  two  gentlemen  of  Deerfield.  There  is  good  authority  to 
believe,  from  records  of  the  General  Court  in  1G53,  and  other  authen 
tic  sources,  that  the  name  we  have  chosen  is  the  old  Indian  name  of 
lladley,  which  then  embraced  what  is  now  called  Hadley,  Amherst, 
Granby,  South  Hadley,  Sunderland,  Hatfield  and  Whately,  and  of 
course  included  this  entire  range  of  mountains. 

"  In  view  of  these  facts,  it  must  appear  especially  fit  to  all  who 
find  pleasure  in  Indian  memories,  that  the  red  man's  name  for  this 
whole  chain  be  now  re-assumed  by  this  noblest  mountain,  the  Prince 
of  the  range.  And  therefore,  on  t\\\$  fourth  day  of  July,  when  our 
fathers  asserted  claims  bolder  and  more  momentous  than  this  moun 
tain's  to  its  rightful  appellation,  in  the  name  and  by  the  authority 


229 


of  the  Senior  Class  of  184(5,  in  Amhcrst  College,  I  now  denominate 
this  commanding  summit  Mount  NOKWOTTUCK. 

"Three  hearty  cheers  were  given  for  Norwottuck,  a  flag  bearing 
that  name  was  run  up  above  the  platform,  after  which  the  company 
retired  to  a  grove  just  east  of  the  summit,  where  they  were  favored 
with  an  address  from  President  Hitchcock. 

"He  commenced  by  observing  that  when  a  year  ago  he  addressed 
some  of  those  present  from  Holyoke,  he  remarked  that  the  scene 
seemed  to  him  more  like  a  dream  than  the  reality.  Had  any  one  then 
said  to  him,  'you  will  next  year  speak  to  us  from  the  top  of  Mount 
Norwottuck,'  which  is  nearly  200  feet  higher  than  Holyoke,  he  should 
have  been  still  more  incredulous,  since  none  of  us  then  knew  this 
spot  as  an  object  of  interest.  Yet  even  such  a  prophecy  has  become 
a  pleasant  reality— unless  indeed  we  are  in  a  mesmeric  state.  And 
in  fact,  he  was  not  quite  sure  but  that  some  hallucination  of  this  sort 
was  now  upon  him ;  for  as  he  had  visited  this  spot  from  time  to  time, 
during  the  last  few  weeks,  he  had  been  led  to  compare  it  with  other 
conspicuous  eminences,  long  known  in  other  parts  of  the  world — so 
that  as  he  took  hold  of  specimens  of  rocks  from  those  other  places, 
in  the  College  Cabinet,  he  seemed  to  be  transported  to  them,  and  to 
be  looking  over  the  scenery  around  them,  and  contemplating  the 
condition  of  those  who  dwell  there.  He  had  brought  along  some 
of  these  specimens,  and  as  he  grasped  them  he  trusted  he  should  be 
thrown  into  a  mesmeric  state,  and  would  state  to  the  company  what 
he  saw. 

"  1.  He  would  follow  the  fashion  of  the  day,  and  take  his  first  trip 
to  Oregon.  The  specimen  he  held  in  his  hand,  brought  him  at  once 
to  the  top  of  a- volcanic  mountain  on  the  banks  of  the  Columbia. 
He  looks  around  him,  and  after  describing  some  of  the  basaltic  walls, 
and  fearful  cataracts,  and  mountain  scenery,  inquires  whether  all  'i 
neace  among  these  mountains  ? 

4  Do  love  and  mercy  haunt  that  sunny  glade, 
And  sweetly  rest  upon  that  lonely  shore, 
^Vhen  light  retires  and  nature  smiles  no  more? 
No;  there  at  midnight  the  hoarse  panther  growls; 
There  the  gaunt  wolf  sits  on  his  rock  and  howls, 
And  there,  in  painted  pomp,  the  yelling  Indian  prowls.' 

"  2.  This  second  specimen  takes  him  to  China,  where  he  sat  upon 
a  fine  hill  of  granite  that  overlooks  the  city  of  Canton,  and  what 
a  dense  mass  of  living  beings  on  the  land  and  on  the  water  was 
beneath  his  eye,  and  the  country  is  labelled  the  Celestial  Empire. 


230  REMINISCENCES  OF  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

But  its  pollution,  its  idolatry  and  degradation  prove  it  rather  an 
infernal  empire,  and  he  hastened  onward. 

"3.  The  next  specimen  conducted  him  to  Ceylon;  and  when  he 
saw  thousands  gathering  peals  from  the  ocean,  and  others  gems 
from  the  rocks,  while  his  senses  were  greeted  by  aromatic  odors 
from  cinnamon  groves,  he  fancied  himself  in  a  paradise.  But 

1  What  though  the  spicy  breezes 
Blow  soft  o'er  Ceylon's  isle, 
Though  every  prospect  pleases, 
And  only  man  is  vile ! 
In  vain  with  lavish  kindness 
The  gifts  of  God  are  strown, 
The  heathen  in  his  blindness 
Bows  down  to  wood  and  stone.' 

"  Ah !  how  different  from  the  Valley  of  the  Connecticut ! 

"4.  The  next  specimen  of  granite  conducted  him  to  a  strange  region, 
almost  out  of  the  world.  He  stands  upon  an  elevated  mountain — 
the  sun  has  disappeared,  and  yet  it  is  not  darkness.  For  at  a  dis 
tance  stands  a  mountain  of  12,000  feet  high,  pouring  forth  flames 
which  light  up  the  vast  sea  of  ice  that  covers  the  entire  surface,  save 
here  and  there  some  naked  rock  shooting  up  into  the  heavens.  He 
was  in  a  region  of  perpetual  winter— he  stood  upon  the  Antarctic 
continent. 

"5.  But  the  next  specimen  conducts  him  to  a  more  sunny  spot. 
He  is  looking  off  from  Table  Rock  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and 
as  he  looks  southward  into  the  bay,  the  prospect  is  most  imposing, 
and  he  seems  to  feel  that  he  must  remain  there  long  to  enjoy  it, 
But  he  turns  northward,  and  oh!  what  a  region  of  desolation, 
natural,  social  and  moral,  opens  before  him  into  the  deserts  of  South 
Africa  !  He  sees  man  there  sunk  to  his  lowest  level — he  hears  the 
hyena's  growl  and  the  lion's  roar,  and  he  gladly  plumes  his  wings 
for  the  sunny  islands  of  the  Pacific. 

"  (5.  This  specimen  brings  him  to  the  margin  of  the  great  volcano 
of  Kilauea,  the  most  remarkable  on  the  globe.  He  looks  down  into 
a  gulf  fifteen  hundred  feet  deep,  and  seven  or  eight  miles  in  circum 
ference,  which  is  a  boiling  cauldron  of  melted  matter — an  ocean  of 
fire  dashing  its  angry  waves  from  side  to  side,  and  sending  forth 
unearthly  bellowings.  The  scene  is  indeed  sublime  and  awful 
beyond  description.  But  the  tired  eye  would  gladly  be  able  to  turn 
from  it,  and  repose  upon  the  green  fields  and  smiling  villages  of 
Norwottuck. 


231 

"7.  This  specimen  of  lava  carries  him  back  to  the  top  of  Ararat  in 
Armenia,  which  tradition  says  was  the  stepping-stone  of  the  patri 
arch  from  the  antediluvian  into  the  postdiluvian  world,  and  is 
eighteen  thousand  feet  high.  But  think  of  the  literary,  social  and 
moral  condition  of  the  inhabitants  occupying  the  region  around,  and 
how  will  the  heart  flee  back  to  the  Valley  of  the  Connecticut. 

"8.  This  specimen  brings  him  to  the  top  of  the  great  pyramid  of 
Egypt,  five  hundred  feet  high.  Though  he  sees  the  fertile  Valley  of 
the  Nile,  and  other  great  natural  advantages,  yet  Egypt  is  the 
4  basest  of  kingdoms.' 

"9.  The  next  specimen  leads  him  to  a  holier  place — the  Mount  of 
Olives.  To  the  west  lies  Jerusalem— the  Valley  of  Jehosaphat  and 
Kidron,  and  the  Pool  of  Siloam,  encircle  the  city ;  on  the  east  is  the 
Dead  Sea ;  to  the  north  is  Gibeah  and  Ramah  and  Bethel ;  to  the 
south  Bethlehem  and  Bethany.  In  short  the  whole  country  is  cov 
ered  over  with  sacred  mementoes.  But  alas !  what  moral  and  social 
degradation.  How  different  from  this  Valley  ! 

"  10.  This  specimen  conducts  him  to  a  loftier  and  scarcely  less 
holy  place,  Mount  Lebanon,  ten  thousand  feet  high.  Much  of  the 
natural  scenery  around  is  beautiful  and  grand.  But  what  a  horrible 
state  of  society — Druse  and  Maronite  fighting,  and  the  Turkish 
scimitar  and  bow-string  coming  in  to  decide  the  strife. 

"  11.  This  specimen  conducts  him  to  Mount  Olympus  in  Asia 
Minor,  nine  thousand  feet  high.  North  is  the  sea  of  Marmora,  and 
beyond  the  sea  of  Dardanelles,  with  Constantinople  on  the  western 
shore.  It  is  the  centre  of  the  ancient  world,  but  oh!  how  degraded! 

"  12.  This  specimen  reminded  him  that  he  must  stop  a  moment  at 
the  crater  of  volcanic  Vesuvius.  And  here  we  have  a  striking  con 
trast.  Before  us  is  the  deep  opening  into  the  mountain  from  which 
smoke  and  flames  and  lava  are  issuing.  But  on  the  north  are  the 
bay  and  city  of  Naples,  and  on  the  right  stretches  away  towards  the 
north-west  the  noble  Appenines.  But  in  the  same  direction  lies 
Rome— a  name  that  reveals  to  a  Protestant  soul  every  thing  that  is 
repulsive  in  a  religion  that  has  sacrificed  already  by  the  sword  of 
persecution  not  less  than  fifty  million  Protestants.  In  contemplating 
such  horrors  he  forgets  the  splendid  scenery  around  him,  and  hastens 
to  another  spot. 

"  13.  He  now  stands  on  still  more  classic  soil.  This  specimen 
brings  him  to  Mars  Hill  in  Athens.  And  here  how  can  the  scholar 
avoid  musing  for  a  time.  Greece  is  still  beautiful  in  her  natural 
scenery  as  when  her  immortal  poets  sung,  and  her  orators  declaimed, 
and  her  philosophers  lectured  in  the  Academy.  But  alas  !  deep 


232  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHEItST   COLLEGE. 

ignorance  broods  over  the  land,  and  a  bigoted  religion  is  at  this 
moment  persecuting  one  of  the  most  humble  and  devoted  men,  Dr. 
King.  Aptly  has  Byron  described  the  condition  of  Greece  : — 

'  So  coldly  sweet,  so  deadly  fair, 
We  start,  for  soul  is  wanting  there ! 
Here  is  the  loveliness  in  death, 
That  parts  not  quite  with  parting  breath ; 
Expression's  last  receding  ray, 
A  gilded  halo  hovering  round  decay; 
The  farewell  beam  of  feeling  past  away — 
Spark  of  that  flame,  perchance  of  heavenly  birth, 
Which  gleams,  but  warms  no  more  its  cherished  earth.' 

"  14.  This  specimen  carries  him  to  the  top  of  St.  Gothard,  one 
of  the  lower  summits  of  the  Alps.  Above  is  Mt.  Blanc,  with  its 
eternal  glaziers;  below  are  the  beautiful  Valleys  of  Switzerland,  and 
when  he  looks  down  on  the  Valley  of  the  Rhine  he  sees  scenery  that 
will  compare  in  beauty  with  that  of  Norwottuck.  But  when  he  looked 
over  to  France  on  the  west,  to  Italy  on  the  south,  to  Austria  on  the 
east,  and  Germany  on  the  north,  and  compared  their  degraded  polit 
ical  and  religious  condition  with  that  of  New  England,  he  was  glad 
to  hasten  back  to  his  native  Valley. 

"  15.  Yet  number  fifteen  takes  him  to  a  spot  which  seems  more 
like  New  England  than  any  he  had  yet  lighted  upon.  He  was 
looking  down  from  one  of  the  peaks  of  England  upon  scenery  of 
great  richness,  and  upon  a  people  whose  general  character  and  con 
dition  in  most  respects  compare  favorably  with  those  of  our  country. 
And  yet  his  republican  eye  is  not  pleased  with  so  many  palaces,  and 
liveried  servants,  and  other  marks  of  aristocracy  among  the  higher 
classes,  and  of  ignorance  and  deep  degradation  among  the  lower 
classes;  and  he  gladly  turns  his  thoughts  to  the  freedom  and  equality, 
the  intelligence,  morality  and  religion  of  this  Puritan  land. 

"  1C.  But  the  next  specimen  reminds  him  that  he  must  linger  a 
moment  or  two  on  the  shores  of  Ireland,  and  look  at  the  Giant's 
Causeway,  whence  it  came.  And  although  the  scenery  there  much 
resembles  that  on  Norwottuck,  especially  at  Titan's  Piazza  and 
Titan's  Pier,  yet  he  will  confess  it  more  striking  on  the  Irish  shore. 
But  when  he  looks  over  her  surface  and  sees  so  many  marks  of  the 
Beast,  and  of  deep  poverty,  ignorance  and  degradation,  he  envies 
not  her  basaltic  scenery. 

"  17.  He  would  now  return  to  the  United  States.  But  this  speci 
men  induces  him  to  stop  a  moment  on  the  bleak  shores  of  Iceland. 
The  scenery  has  in  it  all  the  wildness  that  volcanic  desolation  can 


NORWOTTUCK.  233 

give  it,  and  the  people  are  honest,  intelligent  and  religious.  But  the 
soil  is  too  sterile,  and  the  climate  too  glacial,  to  bear  such  fruits  as 
grow  in  the  happy  Valley  of  the  Connecticut  River. 

"  18.  This  specimen,  taken  from  the  top  of  Mount  Washington, 
tells  him  that  he  must  not  pass  the  White  Hills  without  stopping; 
and  the  panorama  that  opens  from  this  highest  point  in  the  northern 
part  of  America,  is  indeed  magnificent  beyond  description.  It  is 
also  in  free  and  happy  New  England.  But  he  did  not  see  around 
him  the  smiling,  cultivated  fields,  and  happy  villages  that  encircle 
Norwottuck.  In  short,  though  we  find  elsewhere  wilder  prospects, 
and  scenery  more  magnificent,  yet  taken  in  connection  with  the 
civil,  social,  literary,  moral,  and  religious  condition  of  the  surround 
ing  region,  we  receive  nowhere  such  unmixed  gratification  as  upon 
this  highest  point  of  the  Holyoke  range.  He  would,  therefore,  wake 
from  his  mesmeric  trance,  and  return  joyfully  from  his  long  tour,  to 
enjoy  with  those  present  the  prospect  around,  and  to  bless  God  that 
the  lines  have  fallen  to  us  in  such  pleasant  places,  and  that  we  have 
so  goodly  a  heritage.  Take  it  all  in  all,  it  is  not  vanity  to  place  it 
very  high  among  the  interesting  eminences  from  which  he  had  exhib 
ited  specimens.  All  of  them  must  do  homage  to  this  mountain,  and 
he  held  a  fragment  from  each  of  them  in  his  hand,  which  he  now 
scattered  on  this  height,  as  the  tribute  which  they  pay  to  Norwot- 
tuck." 

"  The  President  concluded  with  this  sentiment : 

"Mount  Norwottuck. — Hitherto  it  has  been  a  wall  of  separation 
between  two  literary  Institutions.  To-day  it  is  a  point  of  union. 
Let  it  ever  be  an  object  of  deep  interest  by  them  both !  " 

To  make  the  road  to  this  spot  cost  myself,  the  Class,  and 
many  of  the  citizens  of  South  Amherst,  several  days'  work, 
and  we  finally  made  it  so  that  carriages  could  reach  the 
summit.  It  is  not  much  visited  now,  chiefly  because  there 
are  so  many  points  along  the  range  and  on  other  sides  of 
Amherst  that  are  very  attractive,  and  most  of  them  of  rather 
easier  access. 

In  constructing  the  road  we  routed  two  or  three  rattle 
snakes.  Said  a  man  to  me  who  resides  at  the  foot  of  the 
mountain,  "  Oh,  how  fortunate  you  were ;  I  have  now  lived 
here  forty  years,  and  all  that  time  have  been  anxious  to  meet 
a  rattlesnake,  but  have  never  found  one."  Probably  he 


234  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHEBST   COLLEGE. 

wished  to  obtain  some  rattlesnake  oil,  which  is  reputed  to  have 
wonderful  virtues,  or  lie  wanted  to  bite  through  the  snake 
once  or  twice,  which  is  said  to  be  a  specific  against  toothache. 
We  did  not  try  the  experiment. 

I  once  met  with  a  rattlesnake  on  the  crest  of  Holyoke,  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  south  of  the  Prospect  House.  I  had 
mounted  a  bowlder  and  called  the  class  around  me  to  examine 
it,  when  some  one  cried  out,  "  there  is  a  rattlesnake ; "  and 
indeed  a  coiled  specimen  lay  within  the  circle  of  students. 
He  made  no  attempt  to  injure  us,  but  I  am  afraid  we  did  not 
act  as  generously  towards  him. 

1 6.     METTAWOMPE. 

According  to  my  recollection,  our  next  effort  in  the  way 
of  christening  mountains  was  an  attempt  to  fix  a  new  name  to 
a  mountain  in  Sunderland,  whose  principal  summit  had  borne 
the  name  of  Toby.  As  this  was  one  of  our  most  laborious 
efforts  and  drew  upon  us  a  good  deal  of  odium,  I  shall  give 
the  details  as  they  appeared  in  the  newspapers,  also  certain 
papers,  some  of  which  were  never  published,  bringing  out  the 
principles  which  have  guided  us  in  these  efforts. 

It  may  be  desirable  to  say  that  this  mountain,  most  of  which 
lies  in  Sunderland,  consists  of  two  parts,  the  highest  and  most 
massive  part  being  Toby,  and  the  southern  part,  separated 
from  Toby  by  a  valley,  and  called  Bull  Hill.  It  was  Toby 
proper  to  which  the  class  directed  their  attention,  although 
Bull  Hill,  as  we  shall  see,  was  taken  in  hand  at  a  later  date. 
The  following  brief  history  of  the  christening  of  Mettawompe 
was  printed  in  the  "  Express  "  of  June  22d,  1849  : — 

«'  The  ceremony  was  commenced  by  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee 
of  the  Class,  Edward  Hitchcock,  Jr.,  who  announced  briefly  the 
reasons  for  proposing  a  change  of  name,  and  then  proclaimed  the  new 
one.  A  copy  of  this  paper  we  have  obtained  and  insert. 

"LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN:  Distinguished  individuals,  and  emi 
nent  associations  of  men,  when  they  arc  about  to  perform  an  act  that 
will  operate  powerfully  upon  the  fortunes  of  the  world,  are  in  the 
habit  of  briefly  setting  forth  their  reasons. 


METTAWOMPE.  235 

"In  accordance  with  this  usage,  the  Senior  Class  of  Amherst  Col 
lege,  now  that  they  are  about  to  attempt  imposing  a  new  name  upon 
this  mountain,  —  an  act  which  will  have  so  important  an  influence 
upon  this  Valley, — would  propose  to  this  assembly  their  reasons  for 
this  transaction. 

"We  propose  a  new  name,  in  the  first  place,  for  the  sake  of  good 
taste.  A  splendid  mountain  like  this  deserves  a  splendid  name ;  a 
classical  and  euphonical  name,  not  a  common  or  vulgar  one  ;  a  name 
that  will  look  well  and  sound  well  in  poetry,  books  of  travel  and 
history.  For  this  reason  alone,  we  hope  that  the  citizens  of  this 
Valley  will  consent  to  let  the  name  of  Toby  go  into  oblivion,  if  we 
propose  a  better  one ;  for  we  believe  those  citizens  to  possess  an  unu 
sual  share  of  correct  taste. 

"  Secondly,  we  name  it  by  right  of  conquest.  The  prostrated 
bushes  and  trees,  the  torn  up  bowlders,  and  the  open  pathway,  show 
how  that  conquest  was  achieved ;  and  we  claim  that  never  before 
could  the  beauties  of  this  landscape  be  seen  but  with  difficulty,  espe 
cially  by  the  fairer  portion  of  creation.  To  give  a  new  name,  we 
think  a  quite  moderate  exercise  of  the  rights  which  such  battles  and 
such  victories  confer  upon  the  conqueror. 

"  Thirdly,  we  do  it  for  the  sake  of  the  literary  institutions  around 
this  mountain ;  we  confidently  expect,  that  ere  many  years  have 
passed,  some  splendid  poems  will  issue  from  these  institutions.  But 
no  poet  would  dare  to  write  a  poem,  if  he  must  introduce  into  it  the 
name  of  Toby.  It  would  kill  the  finest  epic  in  the  world. 

"  Finally,  wre  wish  to  change  the  name  in  order  to  do  justice  to  the 
original  owners  of  this  mountain.  Here  is  the  first  deed  of  this 
mountain,  or  rather  of  most  of  Sunderland,  Leverett,  Montague  and 
Shutesbury,  by  several  Indian  Chiefs  and  one  Squaw,  and  especially 
by  one  Sachem,  who  speaks  in  the  name  of  the  rest.  He  sold  the 
whole  for  eighty  fathoms  of  wampum  ;  and  probably  there  is  not  one 
man  in  a  thousand  in  this  Valley  who  ever  heard  of  him.  Some  young 
gentlemen  in  Sunderland,  a  few  years  ago,  did  indeed  attempt  to 
rescue  his  name  from  oblivion,  in  a  periodical  which  they  published 
for  a  short  time,  which  is  now  before  you.  But  his  name  ought  long 
ago  to  have  been  attached  to  this  mountain,  where  we  doubt  not  he 
hunted  a  thousand  times.  And  this  act  of  justice,  though  tardy,  is 
what  we  propose  to  do  to-day.  His  name,  although  of  the  purest 
Indian,  is  easily  spelt  and  pronounced,  and  euphonious  in  either 
prose  or  poetry.  It  is  METTAWOMPE,  and  by  the  Senior  Class  of  1849, 
in  Amherst  College,  the  name  Mettawompe  is  hereby  affixed  to  this 
mountain. 


236  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMIIERST   COLLEGE. 

"The  concluding  exercise  was  a  dialogue  between  William  R. 
Palmer  and  George  It.  Ferguson,  which  took  the  audience  very  much 
by  surprise,  and  excited  a  good  deal  of  interest.  A  stern  looking 
old  man,  dressed  in  Puritan  style,  and  with  a  rusty  musket  in  his 
hand,  suddenly  pressed  through  the  crowd,  and  mounting  the  plat 
form  demanded  of  the  young  men  what  they  were  doing.  They 
shrunk  back,  seemingly  affrighted,  and  began  to  apologize,  when  he 
declared  himself  to  be  Mr.  Toby,  from  whom  the  mountain  had  been 
named,  and  that  the  uproar  of  that  day,  and  the  injustice  that  had 
just  been  done  him,  would  not  allow  him  to  sleep  in  his  grave,  and  he 
had  come  forward  to  vindicate  his  rights.  At  this  moment  a  tall 
Indian  Chief,  appropriately  decorated,  issued  from  the  bushes,  and 
was  immediately  recognized  by  Mr.  Toby  as  old  Mettawompe.  The 
occasion  had  roused  him  too  from  his  grave,  to  thank  the  young  men 
for  their  generous  effort  to  do  justice  to  his  memory.  A  rather  sharp 
discussion  ensued  between  Toby  and  Mettawompe,  in  vindication  of 
their  respective  claims  to  the  mountain.  Toby  said  that  his  name  was 
put  upon  it,  because  he  had  been  so  successful  in  killing  Indians. 
Mettawompe  said  that  although  he  had  deeded  to  the  whites  the  right 
of  soil,  he  never  thought  of  having  his  name  struck  off  from  the 
mountain,  which  was  his  throne  and  that  of  his  ancestors.  He  then 
turned  to  the  company  present,  and  appealed  to  them,  especially  to 
the  squaws,  to  say  whether  he  or  Toby  had  the  best  claim  to  the 
mountain.  A  response  was  immediately  given  by  the  audience  ;  and 
although  we  heard  two  or  three  voices  in  favor  of  Toby,  the  great 
mass  cried  out,  « Mettawompe,  —  Mettawompe  forever ! '  " 

The  Class  had  no  idea  what  a  solemn  reproof  awaited  them 
for  this  act  of  theirs,  which  they  thought  was  at  least  harm 
less,  and  they  supposed  that  it  met  with  the  approbation  of  the 
leading  men  of  Sunderland.  But  after  a  delay  of  nearly  five 
months,  the  cloud  of  disapprobation  became  fully  charged,  and 
poured  out  its  contents  through  the  "  Express  "  of  November 
9th,  1849,  in  the  following  communication: — 

"  METTAWOMPE  vs.  TOBY. 

"  MR.  EDITOR  : — In  a  warrant  calling  a  town  meeting  on  the  day 
of  election  of  State  officers,  an  article  was  inserted  to  this  effect : 

"To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  comply  with  the  change  made 
by  the  Senior  Class  of  Amherst  College,  in  calling  the  mountain  here 
tofore  called  Toby  by  the  name  of  Mettawompe. 

"  The  following  resolution  was  presented  to  the  meeting,  and  passed 


PROTEST.  237 

by  a  majority  of  six  to  one,  and  a  vote  taken  that  it  be  sent  to  the 
publisher  of  the  '  Amherst  Express '  for  publication  : 

"  Whereas,  in  the  month  of  June  last,  the  Senior  Class  of  Amherst 
College  saw  fit  to  change  the  name  of  the  mountain  heretofore  called 
Toby,  to  that  of  Mettawompe,  therefore 

"Resolved,  That  as  the  citizens  of  the  town  of  Sunderland,  we  con 
sider  the  associations  connected  with  the  history  of  the  past  too  sacred, 
and  the  reasons  assigned  for  the  change  too  trivial,  to  justify  us  in 
assenting  to  the  change. 

"It  may  not  be  out  of  place,  perhaps,  in  explanation  of  the  resolu 
tion,  to  state  that  it  is  related,  as  a  matter  of  history  connected  -with 
this  subject,  that  more  than  two  centuries  since,  when  this  now  beau 
tiful  Valley  was  an  unbroken  wilderness,  except  where  a  few  hardy 
pioneers  had  cleared  a  small  spot  and  erected  their  cabins,  that  a 
small  company,  with  one  Capt.  Toby  at  their  head,  came  into  this 
vicinity  from  a  neighboring  settlement,  I  think  it  was  one  of  the 
Brookfields,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  wants,  and  of  afford 
ing  such  protection  as  they  might  be  able  to  give  the  few  feeble  settlers 
who  had  planted  themselves  here.  And  that  they  might  better  view 
the  position  of  the  country,  they  ascended  this  mountain,  the  first 
white  men  who  ever  placed  their  feet  on  Mt.  Toby ;  and  from  that  day 
to  the  present,  his  posterity  have  ever  been  proud  to  call  the  moun 
tain  after  the  worthy  leader  of  that  noble  band  ;  and  should  we  not, 
in  making  a  change,  be  wanting  in  that  filial  regard  which  we  should 
ever  cherish  for  the  memory  of  our  ancestors,  who  have  accomplished 
so  great  a  work  in  subduing  the  forest  and  a  savage  foe,  and  establish 
ing  principles  and  exhibiting  virtues  which  we  should  ever  do  well  to 
endeavor  to  imitate.  I  believe  that  we  ought  ever  to  cherish  with 
the  deepest  and  the  purest  regard,  the  names  of  those  enduring 
monuments  sacred  to  the  memory  of  those  of  other  times,  that,  so 
often  as  we  or  our  posterity  may  behold  the  mountains  of  Holyoke 
or  Toby,  we  shall  be  reminded  of  the  noble  and  heroic  men  who  lived 
« in  times  which  tried  men's  souls.'  And  though  they  may  have  been 
so  unfortunate  as  to  have  names  not  now  considered  euphonious  by 
some,  we  had  many  times  rather  suffer  the  inconvenience  in  it,  than 
sink  into  oblivion  the  memory  of  their  names  and  their  virtues." 

SUNDERLAND,  Nov.  13,  1849. 

By  this  time  the  class  were  scattered  to  the  four  winds,  but 
the  few  who  saw  this  article  thought  the  whole  subject  a 
matter  for  amusement  rather  than  serious  reply,  and  therefore 


238  REMINISCENCES   OP  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

some  one  inserted  in  the  next  week's  "  Express  "  the  following 
jeu  d'esprit,  and  that  was  the  last  I  ever  heard  of  the  matter. 
I  am  sure  it  never  produced  any  unpleasant  state  of  mind 
in  any  of  us  towards  the  people  of  Sunderland,  nor  did  I 
ever  see  any  evidence  that  they  thought,  us  very  grievous 
offenders.  It  did,  however,  seem  rather  strange  to  me  that  if 
six-sevenths  of  the  people  felt  very  deeply  opposed  to  the 
revival  of  Mettawompe's  name,  they  should  have  borne  to  see 
it  for  several  years  on  the  sign  of  the  village  hotel : — 

•« MESMERIC  MEETING  OF  THE  SENIOR  CLASS  OF  1849  IN  AMHERST 
COLLEGE. — As  soon  as  the  last  number  of  the  '  Express'  appeared,  con 
taining  the  formal  condemnation  by  six-sevenths  of  the  town  of 
Sunderland  of  the  doings  of  the  Senior  Class  of  1849,  in  relation  to 
Mount  Toby,  the  Genius  of  that  class  (for  each  class  as  it  departs  from 
College  leaves  a  Genius  to  look  after  its  reputation)  summoned  a  mes 
meric  meeting  of  its  members  at  noon  on  Friday  last  upon  the  top  of 
the  College  Tower.  All  except  three  or  four  who  could  not  be  thrown 
into  a  somnambulic  state,  were  present  in  spirit ;  not  bodily,  for  since 
a  mere  geological  excursion  had  assumed  so  serious  a  shape  as  to  be 
inserted  by  selectmen  in  « a  warrant  for  a  town  meeting,'  and  then  by 
a  formal  preamble  and  resolve  condemned  by  a  solemn  vote,  it  was 
not  known  but  other  more  serious  '  warrants'  were  in. the  hands  of  the 
proper  officers.  For  the  same  reasons  it  is  thought  unwise  to  say 
who  presided  at  the  meeting,  or  who  addressed  it,  or  what  was  said. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that  being  delivered  from  bodily  fear,  they  felt  free  to 
discuss  the  subject  in  an  independent  manner.  We  give  only  the 
Resolutions,  which  passed  in  all  cases  by  more  than  «  six  to  one.' 

"  1.  Resolved,  That  we  receive  with  all  humility  the  rebuke  of  the 
town  of  Sunderland  as  Seniors  should  receive  a  rebuke  from  their 
Seniors  in  age  and  wisdom  ;  and  in  token  of  our  submission  we  will 
stand  up  with  folded  arms  and  lowered  crests  while  it  is  read  to  us  by 
the  Secretary  from  the  'Amherst  Express,'  with  the  affecting  history  of 
Captain  Toby. 

"  2.  Resolved,  That  we  duly  appreciate  the  high  degree  of  reverence 
felt  by  •  six  to  one '  of  the  inhabitants  of  Sunderland  for  Captain  Toby 
which  has  shown  itself  to  us  by  two  facts:  1.  When  deliberating 
whether  to  propose  a  new  name  for  the  mountain,  we  searched  the 
town  records  and  inquired  of  several  of  the  most  respectable  inhabit 
ants,  but  from  no  source  could  we  learn  who  Toby  was.  2.  The 
mountain  (the  highest  part}  has  for  more  than  a  century  been  carefully 


MESMERIC   MEETING.  239 

guarded  by  gates  and  fences,  and  not  even  a  foot-path  has  been  made 
to  its  summit,  and  the  temptations  to  visit  it  have  been  carefully 
avoided  also  by  leaving  the  trees  so  to  cover  its  top  that  the  prospect 
was  good  for  nothing.  How  sacredly  has  it  been  guarded  !  And  how 
strong  (since  the  town  meeting)  must  be  the  reverence  of  the  people 
for  Captain  Toby  ! 

"  3.  Resolved,  That  as  to  their  Names,  their  Geology,  their  Scenery, 
and  their  Poetry,  Mountains  are  public  property,  belonging  to  no  one 
town  or  individual  more  than  to  others,  and  therefore  every  man  and 
every  body  of  men  have  an  equal  right  to  call  them  by  what  names 
they  please,  and  to  take  all  lawful  means  to  induce  others  to  use  the 
same  names. 

"4.  Resolved,  That  as  students,  the  mountains  by  which  we  have 
been  surrounded  during  the  four  years  of  our  college  lives — which  we 
have  often  traversed,  whose  natural  history  we  have  explored,  and 
whose  awful  forms  we  have  often  gazed  upon  with  poetic  and  even 
a  religious  interest,  should  be  regarded  .  by  us  with  special  interest, 
and  if  they  have  no  names,  or  bad  ones,  and  older  men  fail  to  do  it, 
we  cannot  feel  that  it  is  arrogance  in  us,  but  rather  a  duty,  to  propose 
new  ones. 

"5.  Resolved,  That  to  discover  a  thing  is  not  merely  to  know  of  its 
existence,  but  to  bring  out  its  qualities  for  public  use ;  and  hence  if 
by  hard  labor  we  make  a  mountain  accessible  which  has  been  before 
shut  out  and  its  prospects  unknown,  we  feel  that  we  have  some  claim 
to  the  right  of  proposing  for  it  such  a  name  as  is  agreeable  to  good 
taste,  and  will  do  honor  to  whom  honor  is  due. 

"  6.  Resolved,  That  when  it  is  proved  by  fair  documents,  not  by 
hearsay  rumor,  so  as  to  become  « a  matter  of  history,'  that  Captain 
Toby  and  his  party  «  ascended  this  mountain  ' — <  the  first  white  men ' 
who  ever  did  it,  we  shall  be  ready  to  acknowledge  the  fact  as  of 
interest.  But  it  will  still  be  true  that  Mettawompe  gave  a  deed  of  this 
mountain  to  the  whites  for  eighty  fathom  of  wampum,  and  therefore 
as  its  rightful  possessor,  has  the  best  claim  to  have  his  name  attached 
to  it ;  especially  as  one  of  the  last  of  an  abused  race  to  whom  such  a 
tribute  is  due. 

"7.  Resolved,  That  when  the  claims  to  the  name  of  Mount  Toby 
shall  be  made  out  as  strong  as  those  of  Bull  Hill,  which  the  class  con 
scientiously  refrained  from  disturbing,*  we  will  yield  up  those  of 
Mettawompe. 

*  Mount  Toby,  or  Mettawompe,  consists  of  quite  a  number  of  distinct  emi 
nences,  the  highest  of  which  only  has  usually  gone  by  the  name  of  Toby. 
The  conspicuous  spur  that  extends  southerly  is  called  Bull  Hill,  from  an 


240  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

"8.  Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  class  be  presented  as  follows : 

"  1.  To  the  young  men  of  the  town  of  Sunderland  who  a  few  years 
since  published  a  'Literary  Journal,'  entitled  'The  Mysterious  Budget,' 
(H.  "YV.  Taft,  Jr.,  and  M.  II.  Smith,  Editors,)  containing  a  story  of 
Mettawompe,  (probably  quite  as  authentic  as  that  of  Captain  Toby,) 
•which  greatly  stimulated  us  to  attach  his  name  to  the  mountain,  and 
which  we  recommend  for  republication  to  the  editor  of  the  'Amherst 
Express'  as  very  ingenious,  and  likely  to  interest  his  readers. 

"2.  To  the  seventh  part  of  the  men  of  Sunderland  who  either  did 
not  vote  upon  or  voted  against  the  famous  resolution  restoring  Toby 
to  his  rights.  We  class  them  with  the  '  immortal  fourteen '  who  voted 
against  supplies  for  the  Mexican  War. 

"  3.  To  Moses  Hubbard,  Esq.,  the  owner  of  Mettawompe,  for  allow 
ing  the  class  to  make  a  road  up  its  side,  and  open  a  prospect  from  its 
summit,  without  waiting  for  a  town  meeting. 

"4.  To  Horace  W.  Taft,  Esq.,  for  his  kindness  in  allowing  the 
town  records  in  his  possession  to  be  freely  examined. 

"5.  To  the  town  of  Sunderland,  for  bringing  this  subject  before  the 
public  again,  and  thus  leading  them — especially  literary  and  scientific 
men — to  examine  and  decide  the  subject  according  to  justice  and  good 
taste,  which  is  all  the  class  desire  ;  and  as  to  the  implied  rebuke  that 
falls  upon  us,  we  trust  that  we  are  about  as  thankful  for  it  as  we 
suppose  the  people  of  Sunderland  will  be  for  these  Resolutions. 

"9.  Resolved,  That  the  success  of  members  of  Amherst  College  in 
fixing  names  upon  Turner's  Falls,  Norwottuck,  and  we  trust  also  the 
Ghor,  should  encourage  our  successors  to  proceed  in  this  work  until 
the  beautiful  natural  scenery  of  this  region  shall  have  such  names 
attached  to  it  that  we  shall  not  be  ashamed  to  inform  literary  and 
scientific  gentlemen  from  abroad  what  those  names  are.  They  will 
doubtless  meet  with  strong  prejudice,  misrepresentation  and  opposi 
tion.  But  if  they  did  not,  it  would  be  about  the  first  valuable  enter 
prise  that  was  not  thus  rewarded." 

It  is  probable  that  the  opposition  to  a  change  of  name  had 
an  earlier  origin  than  the  actual  christening  of  the  mountain. 
Some  of  the  newspapers  manifested  displeasure  upon  the 

affecting  incident.  A  farmer  having  loaded  a  sled  at  the  top,  to  which  two 
bulls  were  attached,  they  ran  down  the  hill,  and  Were  driven  furiously  against 
a  tree,  that  broke  the  neck  of  one  of  the  noble  animals.  Hence  the  name  of 
the  hill.  '  It  is  a  matter  of  history  '  that  this  was  the  first  bull  ever  killed 
upon  this  eminence. 


WHY  NAME   MOUNTAINS.  241 

announcement  that  it  would  take  place.  Seeing  one  of  these 
articles  in  the  "  Springfield  Kepublican,"  I  drew  up  an  expose 
of  the  reasons  for  our  course,  but  for  some  reason  I  never 
offered  it  to  the  paper.  Yet  as  it  may  still  be  of  some  use — 
since  a  great  deal  of  this  work  yet  remains  to  be  done — I 
insert  it  here : — 

"  Messrs.  EDITORS  :  —  Having  noticed  that  recently,  and  I  believe 
also  some  time  ago,  you  have  spoken  -with  disapprobation  of  the 
attempt  of  the  Senior  Class  in  Amherst  College  to  affix  the  name  of 
Mettawompe  upon  a  mountain  in  Sunderland,  I  have  thought  that 
perhaps  if  all  the  facts  in  the  case  had  been  before  you,  you  might 
have  been  of  a  different  opinion.  At  least,  so  high  is  my  sense  of 
the  liberality  of  your  views,  and  of  your  desire  to  promote  every 
good  object,  that  I  venture  to  offer  you  a  brief  statement  on  the 
subject. 

"  For  more  than  twenty  years  the  instructors  in  Geology,  Mineral 
ogy,  Botany  and  Zoology,  in  the  College,  have  been  in  the  habit  of 
spending  at  least  one  day  with  their  classes  abroad  in  the  fields  and 
the  mountains.  And  in  such  cases  they  have  usually  visited  some 
mountain,  or  gorge,  or  cataract,  where  the  scenery  was  wild  and 
romantic,  in  order  to  inspire  a  taste  for  the  beauties  and  sublimities 
of  nature.  They  soon  found,  however,  that  many  of  the  interesting 
spots  with  which  the  Connecticut  Valley  abounds  were  unvisited, 
because  no  paths  had  been  made  to  them,  and  that  some  had  no 
names,  and  others  bad  ones.  The  thought  occurred  whether  these 
excursions  could  not  be  turned  to  a  good  account  as  to  this  matter. 
The  first  effort,  and  it  was  a  bold  and  an  arduous  one,  was  to  make 
a  new  road  to  the  summit  of  Holyoke,  which  was  so  successful  that 
the  old  road  was  at  once  abandoned.  The  next  class  opened  a 
road  with  great  labor  to  the  top  of  Milliard's  Knob,  the  highest 
point  of  the  Holyoke  range,  and  this  name  they  proposed  to  change 
to  Norwottuck,  the  Indian  name  of  Hadley.  The  next  class  directed 
their  attention  to  Mount  Toby,  which  had  no  path  to  its  summit, 
and  no  clearing  at  the  top  to  lay  open  the  valley  below.  Not 
liking  the  name  of  Toby,  nor  being  able  to  ascertain  by  inquiries 
in  Sunderland  who  or  what  Toby  was,  whether  a  white  man,  a 
negro,  a  horse  or  a  dog,  but  ascertaining  from  the  town  records 
that  Mettawompe  was  the  head  Indian  Chief  who  gave  a  deed  of  the 
mountain,  I  think  to  John  Pyncheon  of  Springfield,  they  felt  as  if  it 
would  not  be  improper,  nay,  that  a  sense  of  justice  to  a  persecuted 
11 


242  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

and  extinct  race  required  them  to  propose  to  substitute  his  name 
for  that  of  Toby ;  and  it  was  done  subsequently  in  the  presence  of 
a  large  number  of  the  citizens  of  Sunderland  and  Leverett.  In  like 
manner,  the  present  Senior  Class  more  recently  have  explored  the 
deep  gorge  made  by  Deerfield  River  between  Conway  and  Shel- 
burne,  which  few  if  any  white  men  have  ever  done  in  its  whole 
extent,  and  proposed  for  it  the  name  of  '  Ghor,'  an  Arabic  word  sig 
nifying  '  a  long  valley  between  two  mountains.'  At  an  earlier  date 
other  members  of  the  College  had  succeeded,  I  believe,  in  giving 
names  to  Turner's  Falls,  Holyoke's  Falls,  Titan's  Piazza  and  Titan's 
Pier  ;  and  all  this  not  only  without  opposition,  (save  perhaps  here 
and  there  an  individual,)  but  Avith  the  concurrence  of  the  citizens. 
In  substituting  Norwottuck  for  Hilliard's  Knob,  especially,  the  people 
of  South  Amherst  turned  out  almost  en  masse  and  labored  for  several 
days. 

"The  following,  it  seems  to  us,  have  been  among  the  prominent 
good  effects  of  such  excursions  : — 

"They  afford  an  occasional  and  desirable  relaxation  for  those 
engaged  in  study,  and  that  without  any  loss  of  time,  since  the 
increased  vigor  of  body  and  mind  produced  enables  them  to  make 
more  rapid  advances  afterwards. 

"They  enable  students  to  look  at  rocks,  minerals,  plants  and 
animals  in  their  natural  condition,  and  give  them  an  interest  in  the 
works  of  nature. 

"  They  cultivate  a  taste  for  natural  scenery,  and  tend  to  divert  the 
attention  from  low  and  unworthy  scenes  and  pleasures. 

"They  afford  a  good  exercise  in  linguistics  and  elocution  :  1st,  in 
looking  out  a  good  name  for  the  mountain,  &c. ;  2d,  in  preparing 
addresses  for  the  occasion  ;  3d,  in  delivering  them  in  the  open  air. 

"They  tend  to  attach  a  class  to  one  another  and  to  the  scenery 
which  they  explore,  and  form  scenes  of  pleasant  recollection  in  future 
years. 

"They  open  to  the  public  new  and  attractive  places  of  resort  for 
relaxation,  health  and  enjoyment,  unattended  with  many  of  the  dan 
gers  to  morals  which  flow  from  artificial  sources  of  amusement,  and 
thus  improve  the  taste  and  the  character  of  the  community. 

"Now  what  objections  are  there  to  such  excursions  that  will  over 
balance  these  advantages  ?  Is  it  not  desirable  that  the  interesting 
spots  in  our  scenery  should  be  searched  out,  macje  accessible,  and 
crowned  with  appropriate  names  ?  And  if  literary  men  may  not  do 
this  work  who  will  ?  Nay,  if  the  young  do  not  take  hold  of  it,  will 
those  in  middle  life,  full  of  cares  and  labors  ?  When  have  they  done 


THE   GHOR.  243 

it  ?  I  apprehend  that  there  is  a  feeling  as  if  young  men  yet  in  college 
were  taking  too  much  upon  them  to  attempt  to  give  and  alter  the 
names  of  mountains,  cataracts  and  gorges.  But  whose  rights  do  they 
invade  ?  and  if  they  propose  good  names  why  not  receive  them  ?  Be 
sides,  let  the  blame  not  fall  upon  the  young  men,  but  rather  upon 
those  instructors  who  encourage  them  to  this  work.  They  are  willing 
to  take  the  responsibility  ;  and  they  wish  they  had  no  more  serious 
faults  to  answer  for. 

"But,  Messrs.  Editors,  if  the  authors  of  these  enterprises  are  to  be 
followed  with  formal  town  meeting  votes  of  condemnation,  as  if  they 
had  been  guilty  of  some  heinous  crime,  and  if  our  literary  men,  and 
especially  the  conductors  of  our  public  journals,  join  in  the  denuncia 
tion,  the  public  may  rest  assured  that  they  will  not  be  troubled  any 
further  from  this  quarter.  It  is  enough  to  endure  the  severe  fatigues 
and  anxieties  of  body  and  mind  which  such  enterprises  demand,  and 
to  overcome  the  obstacles  which  selfishness  and  vulgar  prejudice  throw 
in  the  way.  Future  Senior  Classes  will  not  be  advised,  nor  will  they 
consent,  to  meet  in  addition  the  frowns  of  those  literary  gentlemen 
who  conduct  the  public  press.  The  scenery  of  Massachusetts,  espe 
cially  of  Western  Massachusetts,  is  yet  only  partially  known  and 
made  accessible.  Many  of  its  most  interesting  hills  and  gorges  are 
yet  unvisited  and  unnamed,  and  many  more  have  names  which  make 
us  a  laughing  stock  to  travellers  and  literary  men,  and  repel  all  men 
of  taste.  If  our  public  journals  would  favor  the  enterprise,  easily 
might  we  open  many  new  sources  of  attraction  to  the  admirers  of 
nature.  But  without  such  countenance,  Horse  Mountain,  Bull  Hill, 
Beartown  Mountain,  Mount  Tom,  Tom  Ball,  Saddle  Mountain,  Rattle 
snake  Hill,  Rattlesnake  Gutter,  &c.,  &c.,  must  be  left  alone  in  their 
glory." 

17.     THE  GHOR. 

I  notice  in  this  connection  the  excursion  which  resulted  in 
trying  to  impose  this  Arabic  name  upon  one  of  the  wildest 
and  longest  gorges  of  New  England,  because  it  happened  in 
the  autumn  of  the  same  year  in  which  Mettawompe  was  taken 
in  hand.  A  brief  account  of  the  trip  from  the  "  Express " 
will  tell  the  whole  story. 

"  THE  GHOR. — And  what  is  a  Ghor  ?  It  is  an  Arabic  word  that 
means  a  long,  deep  valley  between  high  hills.  In  Palestine,  when 
the  Ghor  is  spoken  of,  that  deep  valley  is  usually  meant  which  lies 
between  the  Dead  Sea  and  the  Lake  of  Genessareth,  and  through 


244  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

which  the  Jordan  winds  like  a  serpent,  between  high  and  rocky 
banks. 

"But,  Mr.  Editor,  we  have  now  a  Ghor  in  this  vicinity,  although 
as  yet  you  will  not  find  it  in  books  upon  geography.  Allow  me  to 
mention  a  few  facts,  that  will,  I  trust,  convince  you  of  the  correct 
ness  of  my  statement. 

"  On  Monday,  October  15,  the  Senior  Class  of  Amherst  College 
went  out  upon  a  geological  excursion,  and  we  were  among  a  few 
learners  on  the  subject  who  accompanied  them.  They  directed 
their  course  to  the  south  part  of  Deerfield  Meadows,  where  the 
Deerfield  River  emerges  from  the  mountains,  between  Conway  and 
Shelburne.  Leaving  their  carriages  at  this  place  they  commenced 
the  exploration  of  that  deep  ravine,  which  extends  from  this  place 
to  Shelburne  Falls,  a  distance  along  the  river  not  less  than  nine 
miles.  Through  the  whole  of  that  distance  has  the  Deerfield  River 
cut  its  deep  channel  through  the  rocks,  across  their  highly  inclined 
strata.  Almost  the  whole  distance  they  crowd  to  the  very  water's 
edge,  and  leave  not  room  enough  for  a  house  or  a  road,  and  only 
one  road  crosses  the  river.  The  whole  region  has  all  the  wildness 
of  the  wilderness,  and  the  scenery  is  highly  romantic.  Occasionally 
most  beautiful  cascades  leap  down  from  a  great  height,  and  some 
times  it  is  necessary  to  fell  a  tree  in  order  to  get  over  a  tributary 
stream.  In  doing  this,  some  individuals  were  subjected  to  a  rather 
more  energetic  and  sudden  hydropathic  experiment  than  they  desired. 
But  upon  the  whole,  all  felt  amply  repaid  for  a  day  of  very  severe 
toil,  by  the  fine  geological  sections  exhibited,  and  by  the  wildness 
and  sublimity  of  the  scenery.  There  is  not,  probably,  another 
place  in  Massachusetts  where  a  river  bank  can  be  traced  continu 
ously  nine  miles,  without  finding  one  road  along  either  bank,  or  a 
single  habitation.  The  banks  do  not,  indeed,  rise  above  to  equal 
height,  but  slope  gradually  back  to  an  elevation  of  nearly  a  thou 
sand  feet.  Yet  this  immense  chasm  has  doubtless  been  worn  down 
in  the  hardest  rock,  (mica  slate,  hornblende  slate  and  gneiss,)  by 
the  river  itself.  The  work,  indeed,  is  far  greater  than  the  famous 
deep  cut  between  Niagara  Falls  and  Lake  Ontario.  West  of  Shel 
burne  Falls  there  are  decisive  marks  of  the  former  action  of  the 
river  on  the  rocks  at  the  top  of  a  mountain  five  hundred  and  forty- 
five  feet  above  its  present  bed. 

"In  the  evening,  the  Class  assembled  at  the  hotel  at  Shelburne 
Falls,  and  recounted  the  exciting  events  of  the  day.  One  of  the 
number  at  length  proposed  that  the  long  and  deep  gorge  through 
which  they  had  passed  should  receive  the  name  of  The  Ghor.  The 


ROCK   RIMMON.  245 

motion  passed  by  acclamation,  and  after  remarks  by  several  present, 
the  transaction  was  confirmed  musically,  by  the  Shelburne  Falls 
band,  who  happened  to  be  near,  and  who  struck  up  a  lively  air,  in 
their  best  style. 

"It  ought  to  be  mentioned  that  the  lower  part  of  the  Ghor  in 
Deerfield,  furnishes  quite  an  attractive  place  of  Tesort  for  those  who 
seek  in  summer  a  few  hours'  relaxation  and  recreation.  At  the 
entrance  they  will  find  two  or  three  small  boats  ready  to  convey 
them  half  or  three-quarters  of  a  mile  between  precipitous,  wooded, 
and  rocky  hills,  to  the  foot  of  the  first  rapids,  beyond  which,  they 
can  creep  along  the  shores  as  much  farther  up  the  wild  ravine  as 
inclination  and  strength  permit. 

"If  any  are  disposed  to  demur  to  the  name  thus  proposed  for 
this  romantic  gulf,  we  would  suggest  that  before  they  urge  their 
objections,  they  follow  the  steps  of  the  Senior  Class  on  the  15th 
October.  After  they  have  clambered  over  nine  miles  of  slanting, 
slippery  rocks,  and  have  taken  two  or  three  cold  water  baths,  they 
will  have  as  good  claims  to  be  heard  as  the  Class  can  urge." 

18.     ROCK  RIMMON. 

This  spot  in  the  south-west  part  of  Belchertown,  was  named 
in  1854.  It  is  a  large  granite  boss,  not  large  enough  to  be 
called  a  mountain,  rising  not  more  than  fifty  feet  above  the 
adjoining  road  from  Belchertown  to  Ludlow.  A  few  extracts 
from  a  report  of  the  excursion  in  the  "  Express,"  will  give  an 
idea  of  the  rock  and  the  occasion.  The  representative  of  the 
class,  who  announced  the  name,  with  appropriate  remarks, 
was  William  W.  Fowler.  He  concluded  as  follows : — 

"An  appellation  derived  from  a  locality  and  event  in  Scriptural 
history  has  been  kindly  proposed  by  Dr.  Hitchcock,  in  his  generous 
co-operation ;  this  appellation  has  been  adopted  by  the  Class  of  '54, 
as  euphonious  in  itself,  and  as  peculiarly  appropriate  from  the 
similarity  between  this  beautiful  elevation  and  its  namesake  in 
Palestine.  In  that  sacred  land,  within  sight  of  many  hallowed 
scenes,  within  sight  of  the  Holy  City,  within  sight  of  the  River 
Jordan,  the  Dead  Sea  and  Mount  Carmel,  in  a  barren  waste,  there 
stands  a  lofty  eminence,  cultivated  and  inhabited  by  man.  Ages 
ago,  in  a  civil  war  which  broke  out  among  the  Israelites,  the  chil 
dren  of  Benjamin,  sorely  pressed  in  battle,  fled  for  refuge  to  that 
rock,  where  for  four  long  months  they  kept  their  stand,  until  their 


246  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

brethren  sent  heralds  of  peace,  and  renewed  the  bonds  which  had 
been  roughly  cut  asunder  by  the  sword  of  discord. 

"  So  may  we,  when  sorely  pressed  in  the  battle  of  life,  retreat  to 
this  mountain  crag  to  enjoy  a  brief  truce,  and  on  this  altar  sacri 
ficing  every  estrangement  and  every  feeling  of  reserve,  knit  afresh 
the  ties  of  friendship  and  love. 

"  Therefore  it  is  with  confidence  that,  commissioned  by  the  Class 
of  '54,  I  now  proceed  to  announce  the  cognomen  which  we  trust 
this  summit  will  hereafter  bear.  Thus  we  dignify  it  with  a  scriptu 
ral  name  and  scriptural  associations.  And  when  thus  dignified 
may  the  stored  blessings  of  Heaven  fall  upon  it  like  the  dew  upon 
Hermon.  To  quote  the  language  of  our  Webster,  '  Let  the  light  of 
morning  gild,  and  parting  day  linger  and  play  around  this  summit,' 
which  I,  in  virtue  of  authority  delegated  to  me,  now  denominate 
ROCK  RIMMON." 

At  the  dinner  in  the  orchard  at  the  foot  of  the  rock,  several 
speeches  were  made,  which  were  published  in  the  "  Express  " 
for  June  9,  1854. 

19.     NONOTUCK. 

This  was  not  the  next  mountain  named  by  the  Senior 
Class,  but  I  introduce  it  here  because  I  wish  to  describe  first 
all  those  places  of  scenographic  interest  that  are  so  near 
Amherst  that  they  can  be  visited  in  a  half  day. 

Nonotuck  embraces  the  northern  part  of  the  trap  range  in 
Northampton  and  Easthampton,  which  culminates  at  the 
south  end  in  Mount  Tom.  The  north  part  shows  from  the 
valley  below  three  distinct  peaks.  The  two  most  southerly 
peaks  and  the  highest,  are  yet  covered  too  much  with  trees 
for  good  prospects,  and  are  less  favorably  situated  than  the 
most  northerly  peak,  and  it  was  on  this  that  the  ceremonies 
took  place.  The  day  was  one  of  the  most  delightful  ever 
experienced  in  our  climate,  when  every  breath  inhaled  seemed 
to  awaken  the  physical  and  intellectual  powers  to  vigor. 

Since  this  mountain  was  named,  quite  a  comfortable  house 
of  refreshment  and  even  board  has  been  built  there,  with 
conveniences  for  horses  a  few  rods  below  the  summit,  so  that 
a  delightful  place  of  rest  for  the  invalid  and  the  care-worn 


NONOTUCK.  247 

may  here  be  found.  The  following  brief  description  of  the 
ceremonies  of  the  occasion  is  taken  from  the  "  Springfield 
Republican." 

"  THE  CHRISTENING  OF  NONOTUCK. — Thursday  was  a  '  great  day' 
for  the  students  of  Amherst  College,  Easthampton  and  Holyoke 
seminaries.  The  naming  of  the  three  lesser  peaks  of  the  Mount 
Tom  range,  on  the  h/ow  of  the  most  easterly  one,  was  the  occasion 
that  brought  them,  together.  Fair  women  and  brave  men  toiled 
patiently  up  the  steep  ascent  in  a  broiling  sun,  to  enjoy  the  promised 
intellectual  treat,  breathe  the  pure  mountain  air,  and  drink  in 
the  extensive  view.  Upwards  of  five  hundred  persons  were  gath 
ered  for  this  purpose.  Among  the  notables  were  C.  C.  Chaffee, 
M.  C.,  Erastus  Hopkins,  Lieut.  Gov.  Trask,  Presidents  Stearns 
and  Hitchcock,  of  Amherst  College,  Rev.  Drs.  Allen  and  Eddy,  of 
Northampton,  Professors  Haven  and  Clark,  of  Amherst,  and  llev. 
Aaron  M.  Colton  and  Prof.  Hubbard,  of  Easthampton. 

"The  excursion  and  the  celebration  were  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Senior  Class  of  Amherst  College,  and  at  3,  P.  M.,  the  audience 
was  called  to  order,  and  J.  E.  Tower,  of  that  class,  introduced  as 
the  christening  orator.  He  commenced  by  congratulating  his  class 
mates  that  they  had  left  the  classic  groves  and  cloistered  halls  of 
study,  and  come  thither  to  learn  a  purer  lesson  in  the  great  book 
of  nature,  and  gather  strength  for  other  conflicts.  He  called  that 
mountain-top  their  altar,  and  the  vaulted  sky  their  sanctuary.  He 
said  there  were  mountains  in  the  intellectual  world  as  well  as  in  the 
physical;  that  great  ideas  and  thoughts  give  jo  the  mind  its  highest 
elevation ;  that  it  was  God-like  to  forget  themselves  in  thought. 
He  said  that  the  mountain  we  are  to  name  to-day  is  the  child  of 
nature,  or  rather  God's  nobleman  furrowed  with  age.  Mr.  Tower 
bore  himself  manfully,  and  spoke  about  fifteen  minutes. 

"The  name  chosen  for  these  three  eastern  peaks  of  the  Mount 
Tom  range,  and  formally  conferred  in  this  opening  speech  of  the 
day,  is  NONOTUCK.  This  supplants  no  other  name,  for  the  other  and 
highest  peak  is  now  and  forever  named  Mount  Tom.  Other  names 
than  the  one  announced  were  formerly  discussed,  and  we  under 
stand  if  Prof.  Longfellow  had  accepted  the  committee's  invitation, 
Hiawatha  would  have  been  chosen.  It  is  undoubtedly  all  for  the 
best  that  Ncmotuck  Was  decided  on,  for  this  is  a  local  Indian  name 
of  Northampton,  and  signifies  '  mountain  of  the  blest.' " 

"A  song  followed,  in  excellent  style,  and  then  Messrs.  Tuck, 
Ellsworth  and  Bishop,  members  of  the  Senior  Class,  each  gave  short 


248  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

orations  abounding  in  local  allusions,  and  C.  J.  Brewster,  also  of 
the  class,  a  poem,  entitled  '  New  England ; '  all  appropriate  to  the 
occasion  and  creditable  to  their  authors.  Repeated  eulogies  were 
made  of  ex-president  Hitchcock,  and  when  at  the  close  of  another 
stirring  song  the  president  of  the  day  called  on  him  to  respond,  he 
did  it  in  such  a  modest,  playful  manner,  that  it  brought  down  the 
house,  or  rather  mountain.  He  said,  '  I  never  felt  before  the  loss 
of  that  little  brief  authority  I  used  to  exercise  ia  college.  You  used 
to  obey  me.  I  meant  to  have  told  you  not  to  expose  me  thus,'  &c. 
He  then  opened  a  paper  that  contained  a  dozen  different  stones,  and 
said  that  that  morning  he  visited  the  mineralogical  cabinet  of  the 
College,  and  obtained  permission  of  the  specimens  there  collected, 
to  break  off  little  pieces  in  order  to  bring  them  thither  and  introduce 
them  to  the  rocks  of  Nonotuck.  He  exhibited  specimens  of  mountain 
rock  from  the  Arctic  regions,  the  Rhine,  China,  the  Jura  Mountains, 
the  Alps,  Mount  Tom,  the  White  Mountains,  Egypt,  Mount  Holyoke, 
Africa,  the  Green  Mountains,  Mounts  Lebanon  and  Olympus.  He 
then  tossed  them  up  into  the  air,  and  said  this  mountain  is  now  re 
ceived  into  fellowship  with  all  the  other  mountains.  Dr.  Hitchcock 
was  very  easy  and  familiar  in  his  remarks,  and  the  students  all  love 
him  like  a  father.  He  never  had  a  stronger  hold  on  the  affections 
of  his  pupils  than  now.  We  could  not  but  think,  as  we  saw  him 
drink  in  the  view,  expand  his  lungs  on  that  mountain  height,  and 
tread  those  craggy  rocks,  of  an  old  eagle,  reconnoitering  for  his 
northern  flight.  He  declared  that  the  northern  view  of  that  eminence 
was  the  finest  his  eye  ever  rested  on. 

"  He  introduced  Dr.  Allen  to  the  audience,  the  oldest  man  present, 
us  a  native  of  Northampton.  Dr.  Allen  responded  by  saying  that 
Dr.  Hitchcock  had  made  a  biographical  mistake,  though  never  a 
geological  one.  Pittsfield  was  his  birthplace.  Dr.  Allen  said  his 
father  was  the  first  minister  of  Pittsfield,  and  that  he  fought  as  well 
as  he  preached.  He  exhibited  a  large  wallet,  belonging  to  his 
ancestors,  and  among  other  things  read  from  the  diary  in  it,  a  pas 
sage  about  the  capture  of  Cornwallis.  He  thanked  the  young  men 
for  honoring  Northampton  in  their  mountain  name,  and  said  he 
could  sympathize  with  them  for  sixty  years  ago  he  was  in  Harvard 
College. 

''President  Stearns  was  next  called  up,  and  said  that  he  was 
reposing  as  quietly  as  those  rocks  would  admit  when  called  on.  He 
said  the  mountain  to-day  has  undergone  a  sort  of  baptism,  a 
sprinkling  of  stones  ;  that  though  not  as  old  as  Methusalah,  or  some 
that  were  there,  he  could  not  help  looking  backward  to  the  time 


EYRIE   HOUSE.  249 

when  their  grandfathers  named  another  mountain,  Bunker  Hill,  that 
day  eighty-three  years  ago.  Your  grandfathers,  said  he,  welcomed 
their  brothers  to  a  baptism  of  blood,  and  the  psalm  they  sung  Avas 
Yankee  Doodle.  He  said  that  thirty-three  years  ago  when  a  Sopho 
more  in  Harvard  College  (God  save  the  Sophomores)  he  stood  near 
Daniel  Webster,  when  in  his  manhood's  prime,  he  laid  the  corner 
stone  of  that  monument,  whose  top  converses  with  the  clouds,  and 
basks  in  the  earliest  and  latest  sunbeam.  Still  later  he  had  heard 
Kossuth  from  that  same  rostrum  of  liberty.  Dr.  Stearns  otherwise 
recognized  the  anniversary  day  which  had  been  chosen  for  this  rural 
celebration. 

"  Erastus  Hopkins  next  spoke,  and  in  his  usual  effective  manner. 
During  all  this  time  the  attention  of  the  audience  was  fixed  upon  the 
speakers,  but  the  waning  day  reminded  of  adjournment,  and  after 
the  close  of  Mr.  Hopkins'  speech  the  party  broke  for  the  valleys." 

In  1861,  the  proprietors  of  Nonotuck  requested  me  to  sug 
gest  a  name  for  their  mountain  house.  Out  of  several  which 
I  furnished  they  selected  that  of  Eyrie  ffouse,  an  Eyrie  being 
the  place  where  the  eagle  and  other  birds  of  prey  build  their 
nests,  as  Milton  says — 

"  The  eagle  and  the  stork  on  cliffs  and  cedar  tops  their  eyries  build." 

The  house  was  dedicated  with  addresses  on  the  fourth  of 
July,  1861. 

The  view  from  this  summit  towards  Northampton,  is  per 
fectly  unique,  and  exceedingly  fine.  The  old  bed  of  Connecti 
cut  River,  still  filled  with  water,  here  surrounds  an  elliptical 
island  two  or  three  miles  long,  which  lies  directly  beneath  the 
eye,  and  a  little  beyond  rises  the  beautiful  village  of  North 
ampton.  This  view  far  exceeds  in  interest  any  one  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  from  Mount  Ilolyoke,  although  the  view 
down  the  river  is  better  from  that  summit.  Both  should  be 
•  visited  by  the  lover  of  natural  scenery. 

20.     MOUNT  TOM. 

I  have  already  spoken  of  this  mountain  as  the  culminating 
point  of  the  trap  range  on  the  west  bank  of  Connecticut  River. 
11* 


250  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

It  is  excelled  in  height  only  by  Norwottuck,  in  any  part  of  the 
Ilolyoke  range,  and  the  view  from  its  summit  is  very  com 
manding,  though  less  attractive  than  that  from  Holyoke  and 
Konotuck,  because  the  objects  seen  from  it  are  less  so.  Yet 
he  who  would  enjoy  all  the  variety  and  beauty  of  this  part  of 
the  Connecticut  Valley,  must  not  fail  of  ascending  Mount  Tom. 
On  each  prominent  peak  of  the  whole  Holyoke  range  will  be 
found  so  much  that  is  peculiar  in  the  prospect  as  amply  to 
repay  one  for  a  visit.  I  once  traversed  the  whole  length  of 
the  range  from  Belchertown  Ponds  to  Mount  Tom,  and  had 
several  days  of  rich  enjoyment. 

I  quote  the  following  paragraph  from  my  Final  Report  on 
the  Geology  of  Massachusetts,  describing  a  rich  scene  some 
times  to  be  seen  from  the  summit  of  Tom. 

"I  obtained  from  this  mountain  one  summer  morning  a  striking 
view,  while  yet  the  whole  Valley  of  the  Connecticut  was  enveloped 
in  fog,  and  Tom  and  a  few  other  peaks  connected  with  the  Greenstone 
range,  alone  rose  above  the  vapor.  The  sun  shining  brightly,  and  the 
wind  gently  blowing,  gave  to  this  fog  a  strong  resemblance  to  an 
agitated  ocean.  To  the  north  and  south  it  seemed  illimitable  ;  but 
on  the  east  and  west  the  high  mountain  ranges  that  form  the  bounda 
ries  of  the  Valley  of  the  Connecticut,  constituted  its  shores.  I  could 
not  but  feel  transported  back  to  that  remote  period,  when  this  great 
Valley  was  in  like  manner  enveloped  by  water,  and  Holyoke  and 
Tom  formed  only  low  and  picturesque  islands  upon  its  surface." — 
p.  247. 

Every  principle  of  correct  taste  reluctates  against  the  name 
of  this  mountain.  But  the  prejudices  we  encountered  in  respect 
to  Toby,  have  made  us  unwilling  to  disturb  another  nest. 

21.     MINERVA'S  SEAT,  (Lookout.) 

I  venture  to  propose  this  name  for  a  fine  elevation  lying  a  few 
rods  cast  of  Mount  Holyoke  Seminary,  in  South  Hadley.  It  is  one 
of  those  dome-shaped  hills  of  sand  and  gravel,  such  as  Castor  and 
Pollux,  in  Amherst,  already  described.  Though  not  very  high,  it 
commands  an  extensive  view,  especially  of  the  gorge  between  Hol 
yoke  and  Nonotuck,  through  which  a  fine  view  of  Northampton  is 
obtained,  with  the  range  of  the  Hoosac  Mountains  in  the  back- 


SUGAR-LOAF  AND  TAURUS.  251 

ground.  I  propose  a  name  to  this  hill  chiefly  in  the  hope  of  attract 
ing  visitors  to  it.  I  ought  to  say,  however,  that  a  view  nearly  as 
good  may  be  obtained  from  the  fine  Observatory  on  the  top  of  the 
Holyoke  Seminary. 

22.     SUGAR-LOAF. 

This  remarkable  outline  of  red  sandstone  rises  up  almost  perpen 
dicularly  five  hundred  feet  above  Connecticut  River,  in  the  south 
east  part  of  Deerfield,  and  arrests  the  attention  of  all  the  Valley 
north  of  Nonotuck.  It  is  seen  to  the  best  advantage  two  or  three 
miles  south,  on  the  river  road  to  Hatfield,  or  quite  as  strikingly 
farther  west,  in  "Whately.  From  its  top,  of  course,  the  view  is  very 
rich  and  commanding.  Upon  the  Connecticut  and  the  pleasant 
village  of  Sunderland,  you  look  down  as  almost  beneath  your  feet, 
and  it  seems  as  if  you  might  even  leap  into  either  of  them.  The 
spot  also  overlooks  the  sites  of  two  memorable  battles  with  the 
Indians,  one  to  the  south,  where  the  Indians  were  defeated  in  1675, 
by  Captains  L-athrop  and  Beers,  and  the  other  to  the  north-west, 
where  the  same  year,  Captain  Lathrop,  with  a  company  of  eighty 
men,  "the  very  flower  of  Essex  County,"  was  drawn  into  an  ambus 
cade  and  nearly  all  destroyed. 

If  it  were  possible  to  get  a  more  classic  and  poetical  name  upon 
Sugar-Loaf,  as  well  as  Tom,  it  would  be  very  desirable.  But  it 
wants  faith  and  courage  to  attempt  it. 

23.     MOUNT  TAURUS. 

In  describing  Mettawompe,  I  have  mentioned  that  the  southern 
part  of  that  pile  of  mountains  was  called  Bull  Hill.  In  the  autumn 
of  1861,  the  Senior  Class  that  is  to  graduate  in  1862,  visited  this 
mountain,  on  the  south  side,  and  found  there,  at  a  moderate  eleva 
tion,  a  delightful  view  of  the  Connecticut  Valley,  south  and  west  of 
the  mountain.  By  going  as  far  as  Long  Plain,  in  Leverett,  they 
found  an  unfrequented  path  leading  up  the  hill,  through  a  valley, 
which  they  could  follow  for  nearly  a  mile,  and  then  by  climbing  a 
steep  hill  on  the  right,  less  than  one  hundred  feet  high,  they  reached 
a  terrace,  which  brought  into  view  a  good  part  of  the  Valley. 
Ascending  a  second  terrace,  not  more  than  fifty  feet  high,  a  still 
better  view  was  obtained,  and  best  of  all  upon  a  third  terrace,  fifty 
feet  higher.  Here  the  view  is  quite  as  good  as  that  from  the  top 
of  Mettawompe,  and  probably  it  would  be  still  better  from  the  top 
of  Bull  Hill,  which  is  'now  covered  with  a  forest.  Amherst,  in  its 
whole  length,  Iladley,  Northampton,  Easthampton,  Hatfield  and 
Whately,  are  in  full  view,  bounded  on  the  south  by  the  picturesque 


252  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMIIERST   COLLEGE. 

Holyoke  range,  and  you  have  the  Connecticut,  with  its  meanderings 
directly  before  you.  It  should  be  visited  in  the  morning  of  a  clear 
day,  and  a  better  view  of  the  extent,  populousness  and  richness  of 
the  Connecticut  Valley  will  be  obtained  than  from  any  other  point 
around  it.  The  spot  is  only  about  six  miles  from  the  Colleges,  and 
if  the  Leverett  people  on  Long  Plain — such  men,  for  instance,  as 
Moses  Field,  who  first  took  me  to  the  spot,  and  who  has  so  accurate 
a  knowledge  of  the  geology  and  topography  of  the  mountain — will 
only  clear  out  the  carriage  path  a  little,  and  make  a  little  better 
foot-path  up  the  terraces,  I  believe  this  will  be  one  of  the  most 
frequented  look-outs  around  Amherst,  especially  as  the  drive  to  it  is 
very  romantic. 

In  giving  a  name  to  this  mountain  the  class  acted  on  the  principle 
of  Cowper  in  his  well  known  lines  : — 

Leuconomos — beneath  well  sounding  Greek 
I  hide  a  name  I  dare  not  speak. 

Bull  Hill  is  flat  and  vulgar ;  but  Mount  Taurus  is  in  good  taste 
and  poetical. 

24.    MOUNT  BOREAS. 

No  one  in  Amherst  will  recognize  this  name,  and  not  one  in  a 
thousand  has  ever  heard  of  the  fine  prospect  from  its  summit.  I 
meant  that  the  Class  of  1862  should  have  christened  it ;  but  as  they 
did  not  find  time,  I  propose  the  above  name  to  a  moderate  elevation 
in  the  south-west  corner  of  Shutesbury,  on  the  east  side  of  Amherst, 
rising  from  the  level  of  what  is  called  Flat  Hill.  A  pleasant  ride 
brings  you  to  a  spot  called  Adam's  Mill,  where  you  leave  the  car 
riage.  Directly  north  of  the  mill  and  less  than  half  a  mile  distant, 
rises  a  dome-shaped  hill,  perhaps  three  hundred  feet  high,  entirely 
cleared  and  easy  of  ascent.  Here  you  seem  wonderfully  lifted  up 
above  the  world,  and  though  the  view  is  rather  cramped  on  the  east 
and  west,  yet  north  and  south  it  is  peculiarly  grand  and  extensive. 
On  the  south  the  Holyoke  range  is  just  about  distant  enough  to  be 
imposing,  and  through  some  of  its  notches,  as  for  instance  towards 
Bclchertown,  you  catch  glimpses  of  scenery  beyond.  On  the  north 
Mettawompe  occupies  most  of  the  opening,  and  is  peculiarly  impos 
ing,  with  the  Leverett  church  spire  at  its  base.  More  to  the  right  a 
valley  opens,  and  discloses  mountains  far  away,  perhaps  even  as  far 
as  the  Green  Mountains  of  Vermont.  The  truth  is,  this  Valley, 
which  extends  southerly  through  East  Amherst,  and  so  on  to  Belcher- 
town,  was  one  of  the  old  beds  of  Connecticut  River,  when  the  country 


MOUNT    HYGEIA.  253 

was  undergoing  gradual  drainage,  and  the  waters  at  different  levels 
sought  different  passes  through  the  hills. 

The  name  prefixed  above  has  been  suggested  from  the  fine  oppor 
tunity  old  Boreas  has  to  sweep  through  this  north  and  south  valley, 
when  he  would  not  fail  to  give  very  rough  kisses  to  this  eminence,  a 
privilege  of  which  he  does  not  fail  to  avail  himself  very  often.  He 
does  not  always  exercise  his  rights  there,  as  I  can  testify  ;  for  a  few 
days  ago  (March  29th,  18G2,)  I  ascended  this  hill  in  a  clear,  quiet 
time,  borne  up  by  a  strong  crust  on  snow  two  feet  deep,  and  all  was 
mild,  and  I  may  add  all  was  magnificent ;  for  all  the  mountains  and 
valleys  far  and  near  were  clothed  in  their  winter  dress,  and  I  was 
reminded  of  the  glacial  phenomena  of  the  Alps. 

A  delightful  ride  in  summer  from  Amherst  is  to  visit  Mount  Boreas 
and  then  to  proceed  northward  through  a  romantic  valley  which 
winds  around  to  the  City  in  Amherst.  From  thence  proceed  down 
the  stream  described  in  another  connection  through  a  romantic  gulf 
till  you  come  to  the  Golden  Gate  and  the  Crescent  already  described, 
whose  beauties  will  fitly  close  the  excursion. 

25.     MOUNT  AQUILO. 

Aquilo  means  a  north-cast  wind,  and  I  propose  to  apply  the  name 
to  the  highest  point  on  the  Pelham  range,  which  is  north-east  from 
Amherst  and  south-east  from  Boreas.  Of  course  a  view  from  its 
summit,  which  is  mostly  cleared  of  trees,  is  very  fine. 

2G.     MOUNT   HYGEIA. 

Following  the  same  lofty  Pelham  range,  from  Mount  Aquilo 
southerly  until  nearly  opposite  the  Colleges  in  Amherst,  we  find  it 
cut  through  by  a  small  river,  leaving  a  prominent  peak,  which  is  the 
southern  terminus  of  the  range,  and  although  not  as  high  as  Aquilo, 
the  prospect  from  it  is  finer.  In  the  valley  beneath  some  chalybeate 
springs  were  discovered  a  few  years  ago,  which  became  somewhat 
celebrated,  and  as  Hygeia  was  the  goddess  of  health,  I  thought  this 
an  appropriate  name  for  the  mountain  that  overlooked  the  fountains 
of  health,  and  so  I  placed  that  name  upon  that  peak  in  a  geological 
map  of  the  region  published  several  years  ago  in  my  "Illustrations 
of  Surface  Geology."  Last  year  a  large  hotel  was  erected  on  a  com 
manding  eminence  a  little  south  of  the  springs,  for  which  I  was 
requested  to  propose  a  name  at  its  dedication  on  the  fourth  of  July. 
I  suggested  that  of  Orient  House,  from  its  position  in  respect  to 
Amherst,  and  it  was  adopted.  The  springs  also  were  christened  the 
Uygeian  Springs.  They  are  situated  in  one  of  the  most  romantic 
valleys  that  I  ever  saw,  and  if  the  insane  disposition  that  has  been 


254  REMINISCENCES   OF  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

manifested  to  cut  down  the  dense  groves  along  a  most  romantic 
stream  can  be  arrested,  and  foot-paths  be  made  along  its  wild  banks, 
it  seems  as  if  the  spot  must  present  peculiar  attractions  to  the  invalid 
and  careworn  in  balmy  summer. 

Although  the  western  prospect  from  Hygeia  is  magnificent, 
embracing  the  country  towards  Amherst  and  Northampton,  it  is 
unfortunate  that  the  proprietor  neglects  to  cut  down  the  trees  from 
its  summit,  which  so  obstruct  the  view  that  it  is  not  much  visited. 

27.     THE  ORIENT  CREST. 

In  the  address  which  I  made  at  Rock  Rimmon,  already  given,  I 
have  incidentally  described  the  Orient  Crest.  It  forms  the  western 
ridge  of  the  Pelham  range,  to  the  south  of  the  Orient  House,  and 
especially  that  part  of  it  when  you  first  come  in  view  of  Belcher- 
town,  as  you  travel  along  the  Crest  in  the  road  leading  southerly 
from  the  Methodist  Church,  in  Pelham,  to  Belchertown.  You  get 
a  splendid  view  of  the  Holyoke  range,  of  the  valley,  on  its  north 
side,  with  Connecticut  River,  and  of  many  objects  on  the  south  side, 
and  nearly  south  of  the  Chain  Pond,  in  Belchertown,  and  the  prin 
cipal  village  in  that  place.  The  views  are  quite  peculiar,  and  well 
worthy  a  trip  over  this  road. 

There  are  other  places  of  some  scenographic  interest  not  far  from 
Amherst,  which  will  be  described  farther  on.  But  the  above  twenty- 
seven,  all  accessible  by  a  half  day's  excursion,  must  be  seen  to  give 
one  a  full  idea  of  the  beauty  and  variety  of  our  scenery.  Probably 
very  few  of  those  who  have  resided  in  Amherst  have  ever  heard 
of  half  these  places,  or  visited  more  than  a  tithe  of  them.  It  has 
taken  me  thirty-five  years  to  find  them  all  out,  and  I  may  not  yet 
have  found  them  all.  But  when  I  think  of  their  number  and  vari 
ety,  I  cannot  but  predict  that  this  region  will  prove  a  place  of  great 
resort  for  summer  residents,  on  account  of  the  great  number  of 
interesting  spots  around,  which  they  can  visit  for  amusement,  exhil 
aration,  and  instruction.  Very  few  places  in  the  land  can  show  so 
many. 

I  now  proceed  to  notice  some  other  mountains  more  remote, 
which  different  Classes  have  named,  some  of  them  even  beyond  the 
limits  of  the  State. 

28.      POCUMTUCK. 

This  mountain,  lying  in  the  east  part  of  Heath,  was  named 
by  the  Class  of  185  G.  It  lies  about  midway  between  Amherst 


ANCIENT   GLACIERS.  255 

and  Williams  Colleges,  and  the  Senior  Class  from  the  latter 
were  present,  by  invitation,  and  it  gave  deep  interest  to  the 
occasion.  I  copy  some  part  of  the  account  of  the  excursion 
from  the  "  Amherst  Express." 

The  name  was  given  to  the  mountain  by  T.  P.  Herrick,  who 
closed  as  follows:  "In  behalf  of  the  Class  of  '5G  in  Amherst 
College,  I  give  a  name  to  this  summit,  whose  claim  to  rank  and 
title  among  the  family  of  mountains,  your  presence  here  to-day  has 
sanctioned.  And  while  returning  seasons  continue  to  adorn  it  with 
nature's  beauties,  and  passing  years  add  honors  to  its  hoary  brow, 
let  this  noble  peak  be  called  POCUMTUCK." 

Then  followed  a  Geological  Oration,  by  C.  H.  Hitchcock,  from 
which  I  present  an  extract. 

"  The  traveller  in  Europe  finds  in  its  different  countries  much  to 
please  the  eye  and  astonish  the  mind.  In  England  he  becomes  wea 
ried  with  beholding  the  mimerous  castles  of  Saxon  knights,  and  the 
munificent  museums  of  modern  science.  In  Paris,  gaiety  becomes 
irksome  ;  and  tiresome  the  miles  of  paintings  through  which  he  may 
pass.  Renowned  battle-fields  are  interesting — cathedrals  magnificent. 
But  Switzerland  is  especially  remembered.  There  are  the  mountains 
and  valleys,  the  snow-capped  peaks  and  the  glaciers — there  the 
needle-rocks,  narrow  passes,  and  the  wildest  scenery  imaginable. 
Nature  has  showered  upon  that  country  the  truly  grand  and  sub 
lime  in  profusion.  The  traveller  must  examine  the  European  works 
of  art  before  visiting  Switzerland  if  he  would  satisfactorily  estimate 
them,  so  puny  and  insignificant  are  the  works  of  man  beside  this 
Alpine  scenery.  But  the  glaciers  will  be  remembered  when  other 
objects  are  forgotten,  they  are  so  singular,  impressive  and  powerful 
in  their  effects.  Imagine  distant  snow-capped  peaks — before  you  a 
valley,  on  either  side  of  which  are  precipitous  rocks.  Imagine  also  a 
mass  of  clear,  blue,  flexuous  ice,  gradually  sliding  down,  turning 
with  and  filling  the  valley,  scratching,  t  rounding,  and  tearing  off 
rocks,  and  pushing  before  it  the  moraines  or  hills  of  the  dissevered 
fragments — while  a  rushing  torrent  leaps  from  beneath  the  mass. 
This  might  give  a  faint  idea  of  a  glacier,  though  all  descriptions  must 
fall  far  below  the  reality.  At  present  these  glaciers  are  not  so 
extensive  as  formerly. 

"  It  would  be  natural  to  suppose  that  the  rounding  and  scratching 
of  our  New  England  rocks,  like  these  under  our  feet,  ought  to  be 
attributed  to  this  glacial  agency ;  especially  as  the  marks  of  glaciers 


256  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMIIERST   COLLEGE. 

have  been  called  miniature  drift.  But  our  drift  striae,  unlike  gla 
cier  scratches,  are  found  upon  the  summits  of  high  mountains,  and 
running  north  and  south.  Inasmuch  as  marks  of  ancient  glaciers 
have  been  found  in  Wales  and  other  countries,  geologists  have  searched 
the  valleys  of  this  country  for  similar  evidences.  Quite  recently  they 
have  been  discovered  in  Massachusetts,  where  the  marks  of  their 
passage  over  the  rocks  may  be  clearly  seen.  One  of  these  glaciers 
was  at  the  foot  of  this  mountain,  in  the  valley  of  the  Deerfield  River  ; 
another  was  upon  the  north  side,  in  the  valley  of  the  North  Branch. 
At  the  junction  of  the  two  rivers  the  glaciers  united  and  proceeded 
down  the  Deerfield  River,  through  the  Ghor.  These  glaciers  have 
no  names.  Those  in  Switzerland  have  separate  appellations,  and 
why  should  not  these  be  similarly  designated  ?  Perhaps  in  this  day 
of  naming,  while  infected  with  the  '  cacoethes  appelandi,'  I  should  be 
justified  in  bestowing  names  upon  them.  Accordingly  I  will  denom 
inate  the  glacier  coming  down  the  Deerfield  Valley  the  4  Occidental 
Glacier,' the  one  in  the  North  Branch  the  'Boreal  Glacier,'  and  the 
glacier  formed  by  their  union,  the  « Pocumtuck  Glacier.' 

"  We  might  easily  imagine  these  ancient  glaciers  beneath  us.  The 
Hoosac  range  and  this  mountain  forming  the  snow-capped  peaks — the 
starting  points — the  two  valleys  partly  filled  with  moving  ice,  which 
is  grinding  and  scouring  the  rocks,  leaving  at  the  turns  of  the  valley 
moraines  of  angular  blocks,  the  two  uniting  and  together  pushing 
on  below  the  Falls. 

"These  great  changes  are  suggestive  of  important  moral  lessons. 
I  cannot  refrain  from  mentioning  the  excellent  illustration  this 
ancient  glacier  affords  to  us,  my  brother  Seniors,  of  the  proper 
motives  we  should  cherish  in  seeking  to  exert  influence  in  graduate 
life. 

"The  glacier  at  first  is  clean  and  pure — at  length  it  becomes  soiled 
by  contact  with  the  rock,  and  when  it  has  ascended  up  to  the 
heavens  leaves  all  its  impurities  behind,  besides  giving  to  future 
ages  the  indications  of  its  existence. 

"So  we,  like  this  glacier,  at  first  unsullied,  may  become  soiled  by 
contact  with  the  world.  'Yet  let  the  good  influence  we  exert  be 
great,  so  that  when  we  may  have  ascended  up  to  heaven,  though 
our  names  be  forgotten,  our  deeds  shall  be  too  deeply  engraven 
upon  the  institutions  of  society  to  be  worn  away  by  time  or  fate." 

Other  speeches  were  made.  The  dinner  was  eaten  at  Shelburne 
Falls,  and  among  other  toasts  responded  to  was  the  following  : 

"President  Steams — His  face  more  truthfully  than  his  name,  be 
speaks  the  kindness  of  his  heart.  During  his  short  connection  with 


KILBURN  PEAK.  257 

our  College,  he  has  made  himself  the  object  of  our  warmest  love  and 
admiration. 

"Dr.  Stearns  replied  in  a  very  happy  manner.  He  said  that  he 
favored  this  excursion,  because  he  thought  it  tended  to  benefit  those 
who  engaged  in  it,  morally,  intellectually  and  physically.  He  was 
present  for  another  reason  in  addition  to  the  above — he  was  there 
because  his  colleague,  Dr.  Hitchcock,  had  promised  him  if  he  would 
come,  that  he  would  tell  him  some  things  which  he  never  knew 
before  ;  and  so  he  had — he  had  told  him  more  things  than  he  ever 
thought  the  learned  professor  knew  himself.  From  what  Dr.  Hitch 
cock  told  him  to-day,  he  had  concluded  that  he  (Dr.  H.)  must  have 
lived  years  and  years  ago,  and  he  really  imagined  that  he  was  con 
sulted  in  the  making  of  Connecticut  River. 

"In  conclusion,  he  gave  a  sentiment  which  called  out  Professor 
Hitchcock,  who  after  making  some  very  interesting  remarks,  con 
cluded  by  informing  the  "Williams'  Seniors  that  there  were  several 
mountain  peaks  in  their  region  of  the  State  which  as  yet  bore  no 
name,  and  that  if  at  any  time  they  should  invite  him,  he  would  be 
most  happy  to  come  and  assist  them — at  a  christening." 

This  was  one  of  the  successful  efforts  to  impose  a  name 
upon  a  mountain,  and  that  too  one  of  the  highest  and  grandest 
in  the  State.  It  is  still  called  Pocumtuck  in  the  vicinity. 

29.     KILBURN  PEAK. 

This  mountain,  lying  on  the  east  bank  of  Connecticut 
River,  directly  opposite  Bellows  Falls,  was  named  by  the 
Senior  Class  of  1857,  on  the  23d  day  of  September,  and 
although  the  equinoctial  storm  somewhat  marred  the  interest 
of  the  occasion,  it  was,  nevertheless,  marked  by  the  usual 
good  feeling  and  enthusiasm.  I  introduce  an  extract  from 
the  speech  of  Mr.  J.  II.  Boalt,  the  orator  of  the  day : — 

"It  seems  appropriate,  that  a  moimtain  like  this  should  perpetuate 
the  name  of  one  whose  unblazoned  deeds  would  put  to  shame  the 
easily  acquired  glory  of  many  whose  names  stand  first  upon  the  scroll 
of  fame.  Long  time  ago,  not  far  from  the  base  of  this  mountain,  the 
first  settler  in  these  parts,  assisted  by  only  three  others,  maintained  an 
obstinate  and  successful  resistance  against  one  hundred  times  their 
number  of  Canadian  Indians,  thereby  preventing,  in  all  human  proba 
bility,  the  massacre  of  hundreds  of  their  fellow-countrymen,  in  a 


258  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

similar  state  of  undefcnce.  It  is  time  that  this  valiant  act,  whose 
equal  we  make  bold  to  say  does  not  exist  within  the  recollection  of 
man,  not  even  excepting  the  case  of  Leonidas  and  the  Persians, — it  is 
time  that  this  noble  deed  of  self-relying  courage,  \vhich  has  too  long 
slept,  unnoticed  and  unsung,  should  receive  from  us  a  fitting  testimo 
nial.  Let  us,  then,  honor  this  neglected  hero  with  a  monument  which 
the  proudest  might  envy.  Yes,  the  very  trees  bow  their  acquiescence 
in  this  new  title  to  their  ancient  home,  which  by  the  authority  and  in 
the  name  of  the  Class  of  1857,  I  do  hereby  denominate  MT.  KILBURN. 
And  although  the  torrents  of  rain  which  have  recently  fallen,  are  not 
usually  considered  as  of  go-od  omen,  I  can  see  in  them  but  another 
manifestation  of  the  ever  kind  hand  of  nature,  who  is  unwilling  that 
her  mountain  should  receive  its  new  name  without  a  clean  face." 

Kilburn  was  aided  in  his  extraordinary  defence  of  his  home 
by  a  hired  man  whose  name  was  Peak.  It  did  not  occur  to 
the  Class  till  after  their  return,  that  his  name  might  be 
united  with  that  of  Kilburn,  as  I  have  done  at  the  head 
of  this  article.  Peak  was  wounded  in  the  contest  and  having 
no  surgical  aid  he  died  in  a  few  days, — an  additional  reason 
for  associating  his  name  with  that  of  Kilburn  in  the  desig 
nation  of  the  mountain. 

30.    NUTONK,  OR  HIAWATHA. 

The  Class  of  1860  took  this  rocky  ridge  in  hand  and 
named  it  in  October,  1859,  when  the  forests  were  glowing 
with  autumnal  hues. 

The  usual  variety  of  dramatis  personse  was  introduced, 
with  songs  and  a  poem.  The  clown  was  there,  also  a  Pro 
fessor  from  the  University  of  Oxford,  who  talked  in  Cockney 
style ;  also  an  able  geological  address  by  Mr.  C.  E.  Dickinson, 
an  eloquent  oration  by  N.  Mighill,  who  made  good  use  of  the 
historical  reminiscences  awakened  on  a  spot  overlooking  Deer- 
field  and  Turner's  Falls.  The  poem  of  the  occasion  was 
delivered  by  G.  L.  Goodale,  and  was  entitled  "  The  Legend 
of  St.  Regis'  Bell,"  said  bell  having  been  carried  by  the 
Indians  who  destroyed  Deerfield,  to  St.  Regis,  in  Canada. 
There  was  also  a  "  Scientific  Report"  of  a  Special  Committee 


GEOLOGY.  259 

on  the  Geological  formation  of  Nutonk.  In  short,  the  literary 
exercises  of  the  occasion  were  unusually  full  and  interesting. 
I  have  room  to  make  but  a  few  extracts : — 

SCIENTIFIC    REPORT    ON   THE   GEOLOGICAL  FORMATION  OF 

MOUNT  NUTONK. 
Presented  to  the  Class  of  1860,  by  the  "  Special  Committee." 

OUR  OWN  REPORTER. 

AIR — "A  little  more  Cider  too." 
The  Geologists  among  us, 
Having  made  a  full  survey, 

With  due  consideration, 
Offer  this  report  to-day ; 
"  This  formation's  rather  ancient, 
But  how  ancient  we  can't  tell, 

Since,  alas,  we  have  forgotten, 
*  The  calculus  of  Snell.' 

"But  judging  from  the  looks, 

And  what  we  have  been  told, 
We  have  come  to  the  conclusion 

Mount  Nutonk  is  pretty  old. 
And  as  to  its  formation, 

It  is  made  of  soil  and  stone, 
But  what  that  rock  and  soil  may  be, 

Your  Committee  haven't  known. 

"  We  think  Oolitic  poultry, 

And  sand-stone  barnyard  fowl 
Once  roosted  in  that  old  tree, 

Where  mountain  whirlwinds  howl. 
We  also  think  that  the  mountain  top, 

Which  they  call  the  poet's  seat, 
Was  the  place  where  Ichthiosaurians 

In  council  used  to  meet. 

"  And  here  upon  their  hand-sleds 
These  ancient  creatures  sat, 

And  coasted  down  the  hill-side, 
And  many  a  bump  they  '  gat.' 

On  the  river's  side  below  us, 
These  ancient  creatures  landed, 

And  there  their  foot-steps  now  are  seen 
In  the  metamorphic  sand-bed. 


260  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

"  And  the  striae  that  folks  talk  about, 

Were  made  by  their  old  sleds. 
But  other  notions  than  the  true, 

Fill  Geologic  heads. 
We  give  these  facts  advisedly, 

Although  our  chairman  states, 
These  lines  were  probably  the  marks 

Of  Brontozoic  skates ! 

"  You'll  notice  that  the  rock  up  here, 

Is  as  hard  as  the  Koh-i-nohr; 
We  account  for  this  phenomenon, 

All  unexplained  before. 
Once  on  a  New  Year's  evening, 

(It  may  seem  somewhat  queer,) 
The  Ornothichnites  had  a  ball 

And  danced  till  daylight  here. 

"  When  morning  came,  the  ground  was  hard 

As  a  marble  dancing  floor, 
And  the  bowlders,  metamorphosed  now, 

Were  the  jewels  that  they  wore! 
These  facts  can  be  relied  upon, 

For  truth  can  never  fail, 
And  if  you  doubt  it,  we  would  point 

To  the  '  Megatherium's  tale.' 

"  This  tale  was  printed  long  ago, 

By  Mastodon  &  Son, 
'Twas  read  in  Pre-Adamic  Schools, 

And  had  an  awful  run. 
Should  you  ask  us  how  we  know  of  things 

From  others  so  aloof — 
'By  the  kindness  of  the  publishers,' 

We  examined  all  the  proof. 

"  Submit  we  now  this  full  Report, 

Of  your  profound  Committee, 
If  we've  developed  no  new  facts, 

We  think  it  is  a  pity. 
Let  no  one  doubt  these  honest  truths 

We  faithfully  have  given, 
Of  the  days  when  mammoth  pachyderms 

Breathed  here  the  air  of  Heaven." 

For  some  reason,  I  never  knew  what,  the  name  of  Nutonk 
did  not  strike  the  people  of  Greenfield  favorably,  and  it  is  not 


EOLUS.  261 

probable  that  it  will  ever  be  extensively  adopted,  although  I 
cannot  see  why  it  has  not  all  the  characteristics  of  a  good 
name — short,  euphonical,  Indian,  poetical.  But  it  is  useless 
to  reason  against  sentiment.  Had  I  known  that  "  Poet's 
Seat "  had  been  used  sometimes  as  the  name  of  this  rocky 
ridge,  I  should  have  advised  the  Class  to  christen  it  Hiawatha, 
which  I  think  would  have  been  more  acceptable,  and  which  I 
therefore  prefix  to  this  account,  as  a  synonym  to  Nutonk. 

31.     EOLUS. 

This  lofty  mountain,  2,468  feet  above  the  village  of  East 
Dorset,  in  Vermont,  and  3,148  above  the  ocean,  was  named 
in  the  autumn  of  1860,  by  the  Class  of  1861.  Most  of  its 
lower  part,  to  the  height  of  1,970  feet,  is  composed  of  nearly 
horizontal  layers  of  white  and  gray  limestone,  capped  by 
about  oOO  feet  of  talcoid  schist.  At  the  height  of  1,750  feet 
is  an  extensive  cavern  in  the  limestone,  probably  once  the  bed 
of  a  stream.  It  was  not  the  main  object  of  an  excursion 
so  far  from  Amherst  to  name  this  mountain,  but  rather  to 
aid  me  in  measuring  a  section  across  the  Green  Mountains 
and  to  visit  the  gold  region  of  Plymouth.  But  the  tempta 
tions  to  christen  such  a  magnificent  mountain  was  too  strong 
to  be  resisted,  although  it  involved  a  night-ride  in  the  cars. 
It  proved  to  be  perhaps  the  most  successful  effort  of  this  kind 
ever  attempted  by  the  Classes  at  Amherst.  A  description  of 
the  trip,  by  one  of  the  party,  follows : — 

"Leaving  Rutland  about  one  o'clock,  Saturday  morning,  we  made  our 
way  as  speedily  as  possible,  on  the  Western  Vermont  Railroad,  towards 
the  little  village  of  East  Dorset.  Time  and  language  would  fail  to  de 
scribe  the  feelings  and  postures  of  our  company  as  we  proceeded.  Some, 
desirous  to  sleep,  were  coiled  up  like  a  chicken  in  an  egg  shell ; 
others,  fearful  of  being  carried  too  far,  were  using  the  few  energies 
of  life  remaining  to  keep  themselves  and  others  awake.  Turkeys 
never  went  to  roost  more  gladly  than  the  Seniors  sought  their  beds 
in  the  hotel.  Some,  however,  had  to  abide  in  the  manger,  for  there 
was  no  room  for  them  in  the  inn.  Morning  came  very  early  in  East 
Dorset ;  and  after  a  short  but  wholesome  breakfast,  we  screwed  up 


262  REMINISCENCES   OF  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

our  courage  for  the  ascent  of  the  mountain,  which  rose  nearly  three 
thousand  feet  above  us.  This  mountain  has  hitherto  gone  by  the  name 
of  Dorset  Mountain,  which  is  no  name  at  all,  as  there  are  more  moun 
tains  than  one  in  Dorset ;  and  it  seemed  good  to  us  to  append  a  name 
which  might  be  called  its  own.  And  for  that  reason  we  ascended  its 
steep  marble  sides.  After  climbing  nearly  half  its  height,  we  came 
to  the  marble  quarries  of  Messrs.  Holley,  Field  &  Kent,  where  is 
obtained  stone  which  rivals  the  Carrara,  and  goes  by  the  name  of 
the  •  Vermont  Italian.'  It  has,  more  clearly  than  any  other  Ameri 
can  marble,  the  metallic  ring  so  peculiar  to  the  best  Italian  marbles. 
It  is  very  hard,  containing  a  large  per  cent,  of  silica,  and  is  conse 
quently  very  durable.  The  strata  lie  in  a  horizontal  position,  which 
is  different  from  that  of  the  strata  in  the  neighboring  mountains,  and 
implies  a  different  formation.  It  is  quite  evident  that  the  mountain 
was  forced  up  into  its  present  position  by  lateral  pressure.  Leaving 
the  quarries,  we  ascended  to  within  about  seven  or  eight  hundred  feet 
of  the  summit,  where  we  found  a  sort  of  table  ground  and  an  enor 
mous  cave  in  the  solid  marble.  It  was  here  proposed  to  take  a  stand 
and  shoulder  the  responsibility  of  godfather  to  this  mountain.  When 
all  had  arrived,  and  order  was  restored,  Mr.  C.  H.  Hitchcock  com 
menced  the  services  of  christening,  with  a  few  brief  remarks  relative 
to  the  birth,  growth  and  maturity  of  the  mountain,  mentioning  also 
the  brotherhood  of  mountains  for  which  Amherst  boys  had  become 
the  sponsors.  Then  with  his  geological  hammer,  he  broke  the  bottle 
he  held  in  his  hand,  (thereby  reminding  us  of  Gideon  and  his  troop,) 
and  the  mountain  was  christened  with  the  sprinkling  of  water,  which 
flowed  from  its  own  marble  heart,  MOUNT  EOLUS. 

"After  this  ceremony,  Mr.  Field,  who  accompanied  the  Class  up 
the  mountain,  made  a  brief  address,  stating  his  pleasure  in  the  occa 
sion,  and  his  conviction  that  the  name  would  be  a  permanent  one. 

"A  striking  little  episode  next  followed,  in  which  four  personifica 
tions  of  the  winds  came  blowing  and  whirling  among  the  crowd, 
enough  to  make  us  all  shiver.  It  is  needless  to  state  that  the  most 
gaseous  personages  in  the  Class  were  selected  for  this  purpose. 

"  A  poem  was  then  read  by  one  of  the  number,  giving  some  sketch 
of  the  life  of  the  winds,  and  their  keeper,  Eolus.  We  have  not  been 
able  to  obtain  a  line  of  this  for  publication. 

"After  the  poem,  an  ode  written  by  W.  M.  Pomoroy  was  sung,  to 
the  good  old  air  of  «  Mt.  Pisgah.'  The  cold  mountain  air  rung  well 
as  the  song  came  out. 

"The  ceremonies  of  christening  over,  we  proceeded  to  enter  the 
cave,  with  candles  in  hand,  and  cautious  feet  beneath.  Down,  down 


EOLUS.  263 

•we  went  into  the  marble  bowels  of  the  mountain,  and  nobody  knows 
how  far  we  might  have  gone,  had  time  or  courage  permitted.  We 
made  the  cavern  ring  Math  our  songs,  and  sundry  jokes  made  our 
voices  ring  with  laughter,  till  we  were  obliged  to  make  our  way  out 
and  down  the  mountain. 

"  Perhaps  it  would  be  well  to  state  our  reasons  for  giving  the  name 
of  Eolus  to  the  mountain.  It  is  a  fact  that  in  some  kinds  of  weather 
air  is  perceived  to  blow  from  the  cave,  and  it  is  very  easy  to  under 
stand  how  we  found  here  a  resemblance  to  the  cave  in  which  the 
ancient  Eolus  kept  the  winds  restrained,  or  sent  them  out  at  his 
pleasure.  Homer  makes  the  winds  to  have  had  their  residence  in 
Thrace,  if  we  havn't  forgotten  our  Greek,  and  Prof.  Tyler  says 
Thrace  is  any  rough,  hilly  country ;  hence  it  is  easy  for  us  to  establish 
our  theory,  for  no  certain  knowledge  ever  prevailed  but  that  this  was 
the  mountain,  and  this  the  cave,  in  our  New  England  Thrace,  where 
Eolus  kept  the  winds,  or  sent  them  out  by  the  stroke  of  his  inverted 
spear. 

"  Equinox  is  a  mountain  in  full  view  from  Eolus,  and  is  said  to 
have  been  so  named  from  its  being  covered  with  clouds  at  the  time 
of  the  Equinoxes.  In  order  that  Eolus  might  receive  a  recognition 
from  its  nearest  neighbor,  it  was  voted  to  give  him  a  letter  of  introduc 
tion  to  Equinox. 

"Nearly  east  of  Eolus  is  Mt.  Stratton,  one  of  the  Green  Mountain 
range,  on  which,  in  1840,  was  held  the  greatest  political  gathering 
ever  held  in  Vermont ;  Webster  was  present,  and  so  great  was  the 
enthusiasm  that  the  people  camped  out  over  night. 

"On  arriving  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  we  learned  that  our 
expenses  in  East  Dorset  were  nothing  to  us,  for  which  we  heartily 
thanked  the  people,  and  cheered  them,  though  not  half  so  well  as 
their  kindness  cheered  us.  By  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Field,  we  were 
allowed  to  bring  away  fine  specimens  of  the  Eolian  marble. 

"Through  the  same  gentleman,  we  received  a  very  kind  invitation 
from  Mr.  Orvis,  of  the  Equinox  House,  in  Manchester,  to  spend  the 
Sabbath  with  him  as  his  guests.  We  returned  sincere  thanks  for  his 
kindness,  and  regretted  that  duty  should  call  us  another  way.  The 
temptation  to  stay  away  another  day  from  our  Alma  Mater  was  great, 
but  we  s  resisted.  Mr.  Field  kindly  offered  to  have  the  following 
engraved  in  the  marble  over  the  mouth  of  the  cave  : 

MOUNT  EOLUS. 

Class  of  1861,  Amherst  College. 
October  13th,  1860,  A.  D. 


264  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

«•  At  length,  after  a  farewell  shout  for  Eolus  and  Dorset,  we  entered 
the  cars  and  started  for  home.  We  returned  to  Amherst  very  weary, 
but  satisfied  that  we  never  had  a  more  glorious  time." 

LARGE  BOWLDERS  NEAR  AMHERST. 
These  are  not  as  large  as  in  some  parts  of  the  country,  but 
they  afford  interesting  examples  of  drift  agency,  and  are  quite 
large  enough  to  be  admitted  into  the  Bowlder  Family,  which 
of  late  years  is  attracting  the  attention  not  only  of  scientific 
men,  but  of  all  persons  of  taste.  Every  one  of  them  of  much 
size  should  receive  a  good  name,  as  a  means  of  drawing  the 
attention  of  tourists  and  others  to  them.  The  three  first  of 
the  following  were  named  by  the  Class  of  1862,  in  the  autumn 
of  1861 ;  to  the  three  others  I  venture  to  propose  names, 
without  consulting  others  : — 

32.     THE  NORTHERNER. 

This  is  an  irregular  mass  of  the  coarse  conglomerate  of  Metta- 
wompe,  weighing  nearly  one  hundred  tons,  torn  off  hy  the  drift 
agency  and  carried  over  Mount  Aquilo  and  lodged  on  the  gneiss 
rock  of  Fclham  Hill  in  the  bed  of  a  large  brook  close  by  a  small 
cascade,  where  it  was  pointed  out  to  me  by  Mr.  Newall,  in  a  very 
retired  and  romantic  spot,  but  which  few  men  would  have  found. 
The  great  difference  between  the  bowlder  and  subjacent  rock  marks 
it  distinctly  as  a  foreigner,  and  one  is  sure  who  knows  any  thing 
of  the  geology  of  the  surrounding  region  from  whence  it  came.  It 
is  a  fine  place  for  picnics  and  other  gatherings,  situated  as  it  is  in  a 
dense  pine  grove. 

33.    ROCK  OREB. 

Near  the  top  of  Mount  Warner,  a  little  east  of  the  summit,  and  in 
the  cleared  pasture,  lies  a  large  bowlder  of  imperfectly  prismatic 
trap  or  greenstone.  Its  weight  we  estimated  at  seventy-eight  tons. 
The  rock  of  the  mountain  is  granite  and  mica  schist,  and  no  trap  in 
place  is  found  to  the  north  till  we  reach  the  north  part  of  Sunderland 
and  the  south  part  of  Deerfield,  say  some  ten  miles  distant.  From 
that  range  this  bowlder  undoubtedly  came,  though  we  cannot  say 
how  far  southerly  the  sheet  of  trap  once  extended,  since  the  amount 
of  erosion  in  this  Valley  must  have  been  very  great.  The  Class, 
with  a  few  ceremonies,  imposed  on  it  the  scriptural  name  of  OREB. 


BOWLDERS.  265 

34.     ROCK  ETAM. 

North-west  of  Rock  Oreb,  say  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  the  woods, 
and  far  down  the  north-west  slope  of  the  mountain,  is  another  and 
larger  bowlder  of  the  same  variety  of  trap,  which  on  the  same  day 
the  Class  found  and  called  it  ROCK  ETAM,  which  in  Palestine  was  once 
the  resort  of  Samson.  We  estimated  the  weight  of  the  Hadley 
Etam  to  be  three  hundred  and  eighty-five  tons.  Its  origin  is  doubt 
less  the  same  as  that  of  Oreb. 

35.  THE  MAGNET. 

At  the  western  foot  of  the  steep  part  of  Holyoke,  and  a  little  north 
of  the  place  where  the  railroad  goes  up  the  hill,  lies  a  large  bowlder 
of  trap  precisely  like  those  just  described  on  Mount  Warner.  It  is 
fifteen  feet  high,  and  by  a  loose  estimate  I  think  it  must  weigh 
three  hundred  tons.  It  is  remarkable  for  exhibiting  on  its  north  face 
a  vast  number  of  magnetic  poles  sufficiently  strong  completely  to 
invert  a  common  magnetic  needle — forming  in  fact  several  continuous 
lines  of  poles.  I  spent  some  days,  several  years  ago,  in  tracing  them 
out.  These  facts  furnish  a  reason  for  the  name  which  I  venture  to 
propose  for  this  bowlder,  viz. :  the  MAGNET.  I  formerly  supposed 
that  it  had  been  broken  off  from  the  trap  ledges  immediately  above 
it.  But  its  exact  correspondence  with  Oreb  and  Etam  in  characters, 
and  want  of  resemblance  to  the  trap  of  Holyoke,  make  it  more  prob 
able  that  it  was  brought  into  its  present  position  by  drift  agency,  and 
originated  in  the  same  region  as  those  on  Warner. 

36.  THE  SENTINEL. 

As  we  ascend  Mount  Boreas  looking  northerly  up  the  Valley  on 
its  east  side,  once  the  bed  of  Connecticut  River,  we  see  a  prominent 
bowlder  lying  near  the  base.  We  find  it  to  be  composed  of  gneiss, 
and  lying  upon  gneiss,  although  the  stratification  in  both  is  very 
indistinct.  It  weighs  something  less,  perhaps,  than  two  hundred 
tons,  although  not  accurately  measured.  As  it  seems  to  stand  as  a 
sentinel  to  guard  the  narrow  pass  east  of  Boreas,  I  have  ventured  to 
designate  it  by  that  name. 

37.     THE  ROCKING  STONE. 

Some  years  ago  a  bowlder  of  several  tons  weight,  capable  of  being 
rocked  a  little  by  one  man,  lay  on  a  farm  then  owned  by  Mr.  Grout, 
about  a  mile  north  of  Pelham  Centre,  on  the  road  to  Shutesbury.  I 
presume  it  is  still  there,  and  though  not  a  remarkable  example  of 
this  phenomenon,  it  may  be  worth  visiting. 
12 


266  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

WATER  SCENERY  IN  THE  VICINKTY  OF  AMHERST. 
The  greatest  defect  in  the  scenery  immediately  around 
Amherst  is  the  want  of  any  large  bodies  of  water.  Connect 
icut  River  is  indeed  visible  in  some  places,  but  it  is  rather 
too  far  from  the  Colleges  to  be  a  striking  feature  in  the 
landscape.  There  are,  indeed,  some  fine  cataracts  on  Con 
necticut  and  Deerfield  Rivers,  though  at  such  a  distance 
that  to  visit  them  will  occupy  nearly  a  day.  But  I  will 
first  describe  a  few  water  scenes  nearer  to  the  College. 

38.     THE  lo. 

I  have  already  alluded  to  a  small  stream  that  comes  down 
from  Pelham,  past  the  Hygeian  Springs  and  Mount  Hygeia, 
and  along  which  are  some  beautiful  cascades  and  gorges. 
Another  branch,  coming  from  Mount  Boreas,  unites  with 
that  from  Pelham  and  the  stream  passes  obliquely  across 
Amherst  and  Hadley  and  empties  into  the  Connecticut  at 
the  foot  of  Mount  Holyoke.  In  Hadley  it  has  been  called 
Fort  River.  But  as  it  passes  along  the  southern  base  of 
College  Hill  for  two  miles,  and  is  not  more  than  half  a 
mile  distant  from  the  buildings,  and  is  moreover  quite  a 
place  of  resort  in  summer  for  bathing,  it  has  seemed  to  me 
that  a  classical  name  should  be  attached  to  it.  It  is  nearly 
as  large  as  the  Isis  and  the  Cam,  so  intimately  associated 
with  the  English  Universities  at  Oxford  and  Cambridge, 
and  I  presume  to  propose  for  our  river  the  name  of  lo.  This, 
according  to  heathen  mythology,  was  the  name  of  a  daughter 
of  the  king  of  Argos,  who  was  transformed  into  a  cow,  and 
wandering  over  the .  earth  came  to  Egypt  and  was  changed 
back  again  into  a  woman,  and  became  the  wife  of  Osiris,  and 
afterwards  the  Egyptian  goddess  Isis.  The  Oxford  Univer 
sity  has  chosen  the  latter  name  for  their  classic  stream.  For 
one,  I  prefer  the  name  which  the  virgin  daughter  bore  before 
she  was  transformed  into  q,  cow  or  a  goddess. 

I  propose  to  designate  that  branch  of  the  lo  which  comes 
down  from  Mount  Boreas,  the  Itoreal  Branch,  and  that  which 


AMETHYST   BROOK.  267 

comes  in  from  Pelham,  past  the  Hygeian  Springs,  Amethyst 
Brook :  for  along  its  rocky  bed  Mr.  Newall  has  found  hundreds 
of  beautiful  amethysts,  some  of  them  more  than  an  inch  in 
diameter  and  of  delicate  color.  It  is  the  finest  locality  that 
I  know  of  in  New  England.  And  besides,  should  a  path  be 
made  along  its  banks  before  the  forest  is  cut  down  by  vandal 
hands,  it  would  open  very  romantic  scenery,  deserving  a  name 
as  rich  as  that  of  Amethyst  Brook. 

39.     THE  CHAIN  PONDS. 

Between  the  east  end  of  the  Holyoke  range  and  the  gneiss 
hills  of  Belchertown  is  a  narrow  valley,  in  which  is  situated 
three  ponds  connected  by  a  brook  and  thus  forming  a  chain 
of  ponds.  Hence  the  name  which  I  propose  for  them.  They 
are  not  large,  yet  a  sail  upon  them  is  pleasant,  especially  to 
the  botanist  in  summer,  who  will  find  here  many  rare  plants* 
In  the  most  southerly  pond  a  boat  is  usually  kept. 

There  are  two  outlets  to  these  ponds :  the  most  southerly 
empties  into  the  small  stream  that  runs  along  the  south  border 
of  the  Holyoke  range  and  flows  into  the  Connecticut  in 
South  Hadley ;  the  most  northerly  was  connected  a  few  years 
since,  by  an  outlet,  with  the  lo  in  Amherst.  Hence  the 
entire  Holyoke  range  is  an  island,  although  few  probably  are 
aware  of  it. 

These  ponds  show  very  well  from  the  Orient  Crest,  as  I 
have  already  mentioned. 

40.     THE  TERRACE  LAKE. 

This  body  of  water  lies  in  the  north-east  part  of  Leverett 
and  the  north-west  part  of  Shutesbury,  extending  also  into 
Wendell,  and  goes  by  the  name  of  Lock's  Pond,  and  being 
the  largest  sheet  of  water  in  the  region,  and  having  around 
it  some  terraces,  I  propose  for  it  the  name  of  Terrace  Lake. 
The  western  shore  is  very  pleasant,  and  I  believe  there  is  a 
hotel  on  that  side.  It  may  be  half  a  mile  across,  and  a  boat 
excursion  over  it  is  very  attractive.  Quite  a  stream  issues 


268  REMINISCENCES   OP  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

from  its  west  side,  which  passes  through  the  centre  of  Mon 
tague  and  thence  into  the  Connecticut,  where  it  is  called  Saw 

Mill  River. 

41.     TURNER'S  FALLS. 

These  are  on  Connecticut  River,  near  the  point  where  the 
towns  of  Montague,  Gill  and  Greenfield  meet.  They  are 
the  most  interesting  water  fall  in  the  State,  and  as  far  as 
my  knowledge  extends,  in  New  England.  The  river  here 
is  over  1,000  feet  broad,  and  an  artificial  dam  is  erected  at 
the  Falls  more  than  thirty  feet  high,  resting  near  the  centre 
upon  two  small,  picturesque  islands,  so  that  the  whole  fall,  seen 
from  the  north  shore,  towards  Greenfield,  where  is  the  best 
view,  presents  us  with  a  Niagara  in  miniature;  nor  is  it  a 
small  miniature.  The  surrounding  country,  too,  is  more 
romantic  than  round  Niagara,  and  the  stream,  for  a  mile 
or  two,  goes  tumbling  down  rapids  too  steep  for  a  canoe, 
bounded  on  the  west  by  the  almost  perpendicular  wall  of 
Hiawatha  (Nutonk.)  Above  the  Falls,  the  water  for  nearly 
three  miles  is  as  quiet  as  a  lake,  and  admirable  for  a  boat 
excursion  through  an  almost  unsettled  region.  A  magnifi 
cent  geological  section  also  is  opened  all  along  the  river, 
especially  near  the  Falls. 

But  I  cannot  give  the  details  of  this  spot.  I  will  only  add  that 
on  the  north-east  bank,  just  above  the  cataract,  rises  a  small 
sandy  hill,  which  was  the  seat  of  a  terrible  defeat  of  a  party  of 
King  Philip's  Indians,  as  much  as  one  hundred  and  ninety  years 
ago,  by  Captain  Turner,  from  Boston.  But  subsequently,  the 
same  Indians  drew  him  into  an  ambush  and  killed  him  and  thirty- 
seven  of  his  party.  On  this  account,  nearly  forty  years  ago,  in 
an  account  of  the  geology  of  the  Connecticut,  I  proposed  to 
attach  Captain  Turner's  name  to  this  cataract.  This  was  my 
first  attempt  to  attach  a  name  to  the  scenery  of  this  Valley,  and 
it  Avas  successful ;  for  the  name  of  Turner  is  now  attached  to 
these  Falls  without  any  exceptions.  In  my  Reports  on  the 
Geology  of  Massachusetts,  in  1830,  1835,  and  1840,  I  gave  a 
sketch  of  these  Falls,  made  by  Mrs.  Hitchcock.  As  early  as 


VIBRATING  FALLS.  269 

1818,  also,  she  sketched  the  spot,  which  was  published  in  Phi 
ladelphia,  with  a  description  in  a  periodical  called  the  "  Port 
Folio."  This  was  before  any  name  was  attached  to  the  Falls. 
This  spot  is  less  than  twenty  miles  from  Amherst,  over  a 
romantic  road,  and  the  trip  can  be  taken  in  a  day.  The  rail 
road  through  Greenfield,  however,  has  rendered  the  canal  for 
which  this  dam  was  built  nearly  useless ;  and  when  the  dam 
shall  decay,  there  is  no  prospect  that  it  will  ever  be  rebuilt 
until  a  real  city  shall  be  built  to  the  south  of  it  where  now  are 
a  few  houses  called  a  city,  as  I  doubt  not  will  be  done  hereafter. 
If  not,  this  spot  will  lose  most  of  its  scenographic  interest. 

42.     SHELBURNE  FALLS. 

These  are  within  a  day's  ride  of  Amherst,  through  Conway, 
and  therefore  I  name  them.  They  are  in  the  south-west  part 
of  Shelburne,  at  the  head  of  what  has  been  called  the  Ghor. 
A  large  and  flourishing  town  has  risen  around  them,  for  the 
water-power  is  prodigious.  But  they  can  never  cease  to  be  an 
object  of  deep  scenograplu'c  interest,  as  indeed  is  the  whole 
country  around.  "When  the  railroad  is  completed  through  the 
Ghor,  it  will  furnish  a  romantic  ride. 

43.  THE  VIBRATING  FALLS  AT  SOUTH  HADLEY. 
A  few  years  since  the  falls  in  Connecticut  River,  between 
South  Hadley  Canal  and  Holyoke,  were  little  more  than  rapids. 
But  in  order  to  build  up  Holyoke,  it  was*necessary  to  erect  a 
strong  and  elevated  dam,  and  now  the  cataract  is  grand.  But 
it  has  one  peculiar  feature  that  gives  it  special  interest.  It 
has  long  been  known  that  some  dams  show  a  decided  vibration 
in  the  descending  sheet  of  water.  Here  it  is  on  a  broader 
scale,  and  more  striking  than  I  have  ever  seen.  Standing  at 
the  end  and  partly  behind  the  sheet,  and  a  strong  unsteady 
current  of  air  rushes  out,  and  you  see  the  movement  of  the 
water  outward  and  inward  in  pulsations.  But  I  once  looked 
at  this  fall  about  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  a  clear  day,  from 
the  road  to  Williamanset  on  the  bank,  nearly  a  mile  east  of 
the  fall,  and  at  a  time  when  the  vibrations  were  in  full  play, 


270  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

for  they  are  so  only  at  certain  stages  of  the  water.  The  view 
was  intensely  interesting ;  for  as  the  successive  waves  of  vibra 
tion  rushed  across  the  river,  the  flashes  of  reflected  light  seemed 
like  the  sudden  lighting  up  and  extinguishing  of  hundreds  of 
gas-lights  along  a  street  in  the  city.  It  was  one  of  those 
unique  and  brilliant  spectacles  which  I  never  expect  to  meet 
more  than  once  or  twice  in  a  long  life,  and  I  have  not  met 
with  any  one  else  who  ever  saw  it.  Prof.  Snell,  however,  has 
studied  the  phenomena  of  the  vibration  very  attentively,  and, 
as  I  think,  has  hit  upon  their  true  explication.  But  there  is 
not  time  to  explain  his  views,  which,  however,  may  be  found 
in  the  "  American  Journal  of  Science." 

44.  ADULLAM — THE  SUNDERLAND  CAVE. 
Three  miles  north  of  Sunderland  Village,  on  the  west  side 
of  Mettawompe,  is  a  cavern  produced  by  erosion  and  fracture. 
It  is  fifty-six  feet  deep  and  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  feet 
long,  and  well  worth  visiting,  and  not  unworthy,  perhaps,  the 
name  of  Adullam. 

II.      GEOLOGY. 

Connected  as  I  have  been  for  nearly  forty  years  with  the 
geological  department  of  the  College,  it  would  be  strange  if  the 
geology  of  the  surrounding  region  should  not  be  among  my 
most  vivid  reminiscences.  Yet  as  a  matter  of  fact,  I  never  till 
two  years  since  undertook  so  to  study  the  rocks  in  our  imme 
diate  vicinity  as  to  be  able  to  map  them  accurately.  And  I 
found  it  a  more  difficult  matter  than  I  had  supposed,  and  more 
interesting.  The  difficulty  is,  that  most  of  the  surface  in 
Amherst  is  overlaid  by  loose  materials,  worn  off  from  the  solid 
ledges,  and  such  as  are  generally  regarded  as  no  rocks  at  all 
but  only  soils.  The  underlying  ledges  exhibit  only  the  rem 
nants  of  formations  once  quite  extensive.  Geologists  have 
been  in  the  habit  of  extending  these  underlying  patches  which 
only  occasionally  protrude  through  the  sand  and  gravel  till  they 
meet  upon  their  maps,  and  leaving  off  the  unconsolidated 


ROCKS.  271 

strata.  The  consequence  is,  that  their  maps  have  only  a  slight 
resemblance  to  the  actual  state  of  things  on  the  surface.  Last 
year  I  tried  to  remedy  this  defect  by  making  a  map  of  the 
geology  just  as  it  is.  And  this  makes  the  largest  part  to 
belong  to  what  I  call  Surface  Geology — that  is,  the  geology  of 
the  unconsolidated  strata,  embracing  many  distinct  varieties  of 
formation.  This  map  I  have  reduced,  and  annex  hereto.  Its 
chief  object  is  to  show  what  facilities  there  are  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  College  for  the  study  of  geology,  and  thus  furnish  those 
who  wander  over  the  surface  with  an  additional  reason  for 
their  perambulations  in  the  knowledge  they  will  acquire  of  this 
science.  My  description  of  the  different  formations  will  be 
brief.  I  follow  the  order  designated  by  the  tablets  on  the  map. 

1.     GNEISS. 

This  well  known  rock  occupies  the  range  of  hills  on  the  east 
of  Amherst,  known  as  the  Pelham  and  Belchertown  and 
Shutesbury  Hills.  Indeed,  the  same  range  can  be  traced  from 
Long  Island  Sound  to  Canada  with  essentially  the  same  rock. 
Against  Amherst  its  dip  is  generally  to  the  west,  though  as  we 
go  east  we  cross  anticlinals  and  synclinals ;  for  this  rock 
extends  east  as  far  as  Worcester,  and  recurs  again  beyond, 
occupying  in  fact  a  large  part  of  New  England.  It  furnishes 
fine  building  materials,  the  quarries  of  Pelham  yielding  the 
best  in  the  county. 

2.     HORNBLENDE  SCHIST. 

This  is  a  modification  of  gneiss  by  taking  hornblende  into 
the  composition.     Only  a  narrow  strip  of  it  occurs  in  the  west 
part  of  Belchertown,  and  is  not  well  characterized. 
3.     LIMESTONE. 

A  bed  of  impure  white  limestone  just  shows  itself  a  little 
south-east  of  the  middle  of  Belchertown,  in  the  gneiss.     It  is 
so  limited  as  hardly  to  be  deserving  of  notice. 
4.     SERPENTINE. 

A  small  bed  of  imperfect  serpentine,  apparently  intermediate 
between  steatite  and  serpentine,  or  rather  perhaps  a  mixture 


272  REMINISCENCES    OP  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

of  the  two,  occurs  in  the  south-west  part  of  Pelham,  along  the 
Orient  Crest.  It  is  a  bed  in  gneiss,  and  seems  to  be  in  a 
curious  stage  of  metamorphism.  Some  might  call  it  soapstone. 

5.    MICA  SCHIST,  AND  GRANITE. 

I  unite  these  distinct  rocks  on  the  map  because  they  are 
blended  so  intricately  in  nature  that  they  cannot  be  separately 
represented  with  any  approach  to  the  truth.  In  some  spots 
the  one  will  prevail  over  a  considerable  space,  and  then  the 
other ;  again,  the  two  will  be  so  mixed  together,  that  long  labor 
alone  could  delineate  them  over  only  a  few  square  rods.  The 
granite  is  coarse  and  well  characterized,  but  almost  useless  for 
architectural  purposes.  The  schist  is  imperfectly  foliated  and 
stratified,  and  abounds  in  quartz.  The  dip  and  strikes  are  not 
veiy  distinct ;  but  predominantly  I  think  the  former  rather 
large  towards  the  east,  and  the  latter  northerly  and  southerly. 
In  some  places  the  granite  seems  to  have  been  thrust  into  the 
slate  as  enormous  veins,  and  I  can  hardly  doubt  that  it  is  an 
intrusive  granite,  though  it  seems  in  some  places  to  have  been 
metamorphosed  from  the  schist. 

These  rocks  are  well  exhibited  on  Mount  Warner,  where 
the  granite  predominates.  The  ridge  running  through  nearly 
the  whole  of  Amherst  I  think  is  underlaid  by  them,  though 
they  appear  through  the  gravel  only  occasionally  near  the 
middle  of  the  town,  but  at  the  extremities  very  abundantly. 
They  occupy  also  a  considerable  part  of  Leverett. 

I  used  to  suppose  that  these  rocks  constituted  the  metamor- 
phic  border  of  the  Pelham  gneiss.  But  I  think  them,  after 
examination,  entirely  distinct,  and  I  suspect  the  granite  and 
schist  to  be  the  oldest  and  to  underlie  the  gneiss.  But  I  have 
as  yet  found  only  a  few  places  of  junction.  At  Adam's  Saw 
Mill,  in  Shntesbury,  is,  I  think,  the  best  place  of  this  kind 
which  I  have  found,  and  here  the  rocks  at  the  place  of  con 
tact  seem  to  be  so  metamorphosed,  and  to  have  so  lost  their 
stratification,  that  it  is  difficult  to  settle  their  relative  position ; 
and  so  all  along  through  the  valley  of  East  Street,  where, 


TRAP  AND  SYENITE.  273 

according  to  the  dip  of  the  gneiss  and  schist,  the  two  rocks 
ought  to  come  together,  the  junction  is  hidden  by  modified 
drift.  It  may  be  looked  for,  perhaps  successfully,  south  of  the 
Holyoke  range,  in  Ludlow,  &c.,  or  north  in  Leverett.  These 
researches  may,  I  think,  bring  out  interesting  results  concern 
ing  the  rocks  of  New  England.  I  think  this  peculiar  forma 
tion  extends  south-westerly  across  the  Connecticut  Valley,  and 
shows  itself  in  the  similar  granite  and  schist  that  embrace  the 
lead  and  copper  veins  of  North,  East,  and  Southampton,  also 
on  the  north  the  lead  and  copper  of  Leverett.  It  may  turn 
out  to  be  a  highly  metalliferous  formation. 

6.     SYENITE. 

This  is  only  a  variety  of  granite  that  takes  hornblende  into 
its  composition.  I  think,  however,  that  it  differs  from  many 
granites  in  being  never  intrusive,  like  them,  but  metamorphic, 
and  therefore  never  has  been  melted,  properly  speaking,  but 
softened  by  hot  water.  It  occurs  in  the  south  part  of  Belcher- 
town  and  extends  southerly  into  Ludlow,  beyond  the  map., 
It  occurs  also  in  the  north-west  part  of  Northampton  exten 
sively  developed. 

7.     GREENSTONE. 

Two  distinct  varieties  of  trap  rock  around  Amherst  have 
received  the  name,  and,  until  farther  investigations,  must  be 
called  Greenstone.  One  variety  forms  dikes  of  all  sizes  in 
gneiss  in  the  west  part  of  Pelham.  Some  of  these  dikes  are 
as  thin  as  paper,  as  may  be  seen  in  specimens  in  front  of  the 
Woods  Cabinet ;  others  in  Pelham  are  some  rods  in  thickness. 
The  thicker  ones  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  they  were  filled 
by  matter  in  a  melted  state,  but  the  thin  ones  could  not  surely 
have  been  injected  into  crevices  so  thin,  and  therefore  probably 
hot  water  was  the  medium  of  their  introduction,  and  if  of 
these,  probably  also,  to  some  extent,  of  the  wide  ones.  This 
variety  of  trap  is  usually  crystalline,  or  at  least  compact,  but 
never  vesicular.  I  have  marked  on  the  map  only  two  strips. 
12* 


274  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

Along  the  west  part  of  Pclham,  though,  I  suspect  other  distinct 
deposits. 

The  other  variety  of  Greenstone  is  that  associated  with  the 
red  and  gray  sandstone  of  the  valley.  Holyoke  and  Tom 
constitute  its  largest  masses,  and  these  show  sandstone  dipping 
south-easterly  under  them,  at  a  considerable  angle,  and  similar 
rock  lying  above  them  on  the  south-east  side.  In  some  places, 
also,  the  sandstone  passes  across  the  trap,  but  its  mode  of 
interstratification  has  never  been  satisfactorily  ascertained. 

Another  belt  of  similar  trap  commences  a  little  west  of 
Long  Plain,  in  Leverett,  and  passing  over  the  south  part  of 
Mount  Taurus,  apparently  lying  conformably  between  the 
strata  of  sandstone,  extends  into  the  north  part  of  Sunder- 
land,  where,  about  a  mile  north  of  the  village,  it  crosses 
Connecticut  River  and  extends  on  its  west  side  through 
Greenfield,  constituting  Mount  Hiawatha,  to  Turner's  Falls, 
and  so  on  into  Gill.  This  bed  increases  in  width,  appa 
rently,  as  we  go  north.  Like  Holyoke  and  Tom,  this  trap 
is  sometimes  a  little  crystalline,  often  compact,  in  several 
places  columnar,  often  vesicular,  so  as  greatly  to  resemble 
modern  lava,  disintegrated  often,  so  as  to  form  a  kind  of 
trass  or  puzzolana.  From  its  southern  part,  at  least,  this 
Sunderland  range  of  trap  has  suffered  great  erosions,  and 
the  trap  bowlders  on  Mount  Warner,  already  described,  are, 
doubtless,  fragments  of  it. 

8.  TRAP  TUFF,  OR  VOLCANIC  GRIT. 
This  rock  is  made  up  of  rounded  fragments  of  trap,  sand 
stone,  &c.,  with  a  cement  of  the  same  comminuted.  It  seems 
to  have  been  formed  by  the  overflow  of  lava  upon  the  sandy 
and  gravelly  bottom  of  the  ocean.  Occasionally  we  meet  with 
masses  of  vesicular,  or  even  compact  trap,  probably  where 
the  overflow  was  the  thickest.  This  deposit  occurs  along  the 
southern  foot  of  Holyoke,  and  extends  southerly  along  the 
east  flank  of  Tom,  at  least  as  far  as  West  Springfield. 


SANDSTONE.  275 

9  AND  10.     SANDSTONE.* 

This  rock  occupies  the  floor  of  the  Connecticut  Valley,  and 
rises  into  mountains  in  Sugar-Loaf  and  Mettawarape.  It  varies 
exceedingly  in  color  and  the  size  of  its  constituents.  Much  of 
it  is  red,  some  gray,  and  some  white.  It  passes  from  the  finest 
shale  to  conglomerates  so  coarse,  that  I  have  seen  fragments 
in  it  seven  feet  in  diameter,  as  in  a  ledge  at  the  south  end  of 
the  village  in  Montague.  This  coarse  conglomerate,  or  rather 
breccia,  forms  most  of  the  upper  part  of  Mettawompe.  Inter- 
stratified  with  it,  however,  we  find  sometimes  quite  fine  shale, 
showing  a  strange  alternation  of  quiet  and  turbulent  waters. 

I  separate  the  sandstones  that  dip  under  the  trap  ranges 
from  those  that  lie  above  them.  Probably  they  are  different 
formations.  Their  differences  I  have  pointed  out  in  my  Ich- 
nology.  The  famous  fossil  footmarks  are  confined  almost 
exclusively  to  the  overlaying  sandstones.  Excepting  on  the 
south  side  of  Holyoke  in  South  Hadley,  and  beneath  Mount 
Holyoke,  these  fossils  have  not  been  found  in  the  region  of 
the  map. 

So  distinctly  marked  are  the  external  characters  of  the 
sandstone  below  the  trap,  that  to  a  practiced  eye  these  are 
sufficient  to  determine  its  place  where  the  trap  is  absent. 
Tims  the  red  disintegrating  sandstone  that  shows  itself  occa 
sionally  in  Amherst  unquestionably  belongs  to  the  lower  group, 
although  there  is  no  greenstone  near.  It  has  a  moderate 
easterly  dip  all  along  the  east  slope,  between  the  west  and 
east  villages,  the  same,  though  not  as  large,  as  the  mica  schist 
on  which  it  lies.  These  facts  have  led  me  to  the  conclusion 
that  an  Artesian  boring  along  that  slope  may  possibly  be 
successful  in  bringing  water  to  the  surface ;  though  I  cannot 
say  how  near  the  crest  of  the  bill  we  might  hope  for  such  a 
result;  perhaps  not  so  far  as  the  west  village,  though  if  it 
should  be  ascertained  that  the  ridge  is  underlaid  by  granite 

*  Above  the  trap,  9  ;  below  the  trap,  10. 


276  REMINISCENCES  OF   AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

and  schist,  as  I  suspect,  an  Artesian  well  might  not  be  impos 
sible  even  upon  the  Common.* 

11.     DRIFT. 

Although  unmodified  drift  occurs  over  most  of  the  more 
hilly  parts  of  the  map,  I  have  marked  it  only  in  two  places 
where  it  is  most  abundant,  viz.,  in  the  northern  part  of  Pel- 
ham,  in  the  valley  of  Mount  Hygeia,  and  in  Granby,  towards 
its  east  side.  Modified  drift  covers  most  of  the  lower  regions, 
and  is  described  under  the  following  varieties.  For  a  full 
description  of  them  I  refer  to  my  Illustrations  of  Surface 
Geology. 

12.  OLD  SEA  BEACHES. 

I  have  marked  only  one  Old  Sea  Beach  on  the  map,  along 
the  western  slope  of  Pelham  hills,  near  the  top,  sending  off  a 
branch  to  curve  around  the  south  slope  of  Hygeia.  I  think 
that  the  marks  of  oceanic  action  may  be  seen  along  that  ridge 
as  a  shore,  in  ridges  of  gravel  and  sand,  though  other  places, 
at  various  altitudes,  also  look  like  old  beaches,  especially 
among  the  old  sea  bottoms. 

13.  OLD  SEA  BOTTOMS. 

It  will,  be  seen  that  a  large  part  of  Amherst,  as  well  as 
South  Hadley,  Granby  and  Hadley,  is  represented  as  covered 
by  this  deposit,  consisting  of  undulating  deposits  of  sand  and 
gravel,  which  were  certainly  left  by  water,  and  which  look 
like  sea  bottoms.  The  waters  may  have  been  fresh,  but  most 
likely  were  those  of  an  estuary. 

14.  MORAINE  TERRACES. 

These  curious  deposits  of  gravel  and  sand,  to  which  I  have 
never  been  able  to  give  an  appropriate  name,  show  themselves 
in  a  good  deal  of  perfection  at  a  moderate  elevation  along 
the  western  side  of  the  Pelham  hills.  Some  small  ones 

*  Mr.  Hills  bored  through  the  sandstone  at  his  new  house,  and  the 
water  rose  so  as  to  form  a  good  well,  though  it  did  not  rise  to  the 
surface. 


TERRACES.  277 

exist  a  little  north-east  of  Mount  Boreas,  in  the  valley; 
but  they  are  larger  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Orient  House,  and 
best  of  all  a  mile  or  two  farther  south,  where  is  at  least  one 
quite  elevated  gravel  ridge  analogous  to  the  Horsebacks  of 
Maine,  and  exceedingly  difficult  to  account  for.  The  rounded 
elevations  I  have  supposed  the  result  of  stranded  icebergs 
among  which  currents  had  introduced  the  gravel,  which  upon 
the  melting  of  the  bergs  took  the  peculiar  form  of  the  Moraine 
Terraces. 

15.  DELTA  TERRACES. 

These  are  accumulations  of  sand  and  gravel,  which  some 
former  stream  had  urged  forward  to  its  mouth  and  deposited 
along  the  shore  of  the  lake,  estuary,  or  the  ocean — in  this  case 
I  think  it  was  an  estuary ;  and  I  think  we  have  one  marked 
example  in  that  broad  strip  of  gravel  on  Long  Plain,  in  Leverett, 
which  becomes  finer  as  we  go  south,  and  terminates  in  a  steep 
escarpment  of  coarse  sand  in  the  Plum  Trees  in  Sunderland. 
How  clear  that  this  was  brought  down  by  the  stream  that 
once  ran  southerly  on  the  east  side  of  Mettawompe.  Even 
the  lateral  terraces  of  that  stream  remain  where  it  issued  from 
the  rocky  gorge. 

16.  GORGE  TERRACES. 

Terraces  are  usually  fuller  about  gorges  than  in  the  more 
open  'country.  Such  a  terrace  appears  to  me  to  exist  in  that 
high  bank  of  gravel  a  little  south  of  Titan's  Pier,  in  South 
Hadley. 

17.     LATERAL  TERRACES. 

These  are  the  most  common  of  all  the  varieties.  They 
occur  on  a  broad  scale  along  the  Connecticut  and  other  exist 
ing  streams,  as  well  as  on  the  sides  of  old  abandoned  river 
beds.  Along  Amethyst  Brook,  in  Pelham  and  Amherst,  I 
have  described  and  sketched  in  my  Illustrations  of  Surface 
Geology  over  twenty  terraces,  extending  to  the  height  of 
several  hundred  feet,  though  they  are  a  good  deal  obscured 
at  present  by  forests  and  dwellings.  But  I  have  traced  them 
out  with  a  levelling  instrument. 


278  REMINISCENCES   OF  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

18.  DUNES  OR  DOWNS. 

These  are  sand  hills  movable  by  the  winds.  "We  have  one 
or  two  not  bad  examples  in  Hadley,  occurring  in  the  principal 
lateral  terrace  of  the  Connecticut  east  of  the  villages  of 
Hadley  and  North  Hadley.  That  which  may  be  seen  near  the 
road  from  Hadley  to  Amherst  is  the  best.  As  you  ascend  the 
first  sand  hill  or  terrace,  if  you  turn  to  the  right  into  the 
fields  you  will  find  the  sand  torn  up  by  the  prevalent  north 
west  wind  and  driven  south-easterly  till  within  eighty  rods  of 
the  road  it  reaches  the  lo,  and  forms  a  steep  escarpment  and 
seems  to  be  gradually  crowding  the  river  out  of  its  bed  and 
piling  up  sand  around  the  trees. 

19.  OLD  RIVER  BEDS. 

In  the  slow  drainage  of  this  Valley  the  retiring  waters, 
which  seem  always  to  have  had  a  southerly  current,  would 
find  different  beds  at  successive  levels.  These  old  beds  can 
generally  be  traced  out  without  much  difficulty  by  the  gorges 
and  terraces,  and  sometimes  potholes,  which  they  have  left. 
I  have  already  mentioned  one  as  manifest  along  the  east  side 
of  Leverett,  thence  past  Mount  Boreas  through  East  Amherst 
and  the  Belchertown  Chain  Ponds,  thence  south-westerly 
through  South  Hadley.  Another  can  be  traced  very  distinctly 
along  the  east  side  of  Mettawompe  as  far  as  the  Plum  Trees 
in  Sunderland,  where  it  coalesces  with  the  deepest  part  of  the 
Valley.  A  third  at  a  lower  level  starts  from  the  present 
Connecticut  a  little  north  of  Sunderland  village,  passes  east 
of  it  and  proceeds  to  Amherst,  so  as  to  go  through  the  Valley 
between  College  Hill  and  Mount  Warner,  and  thence  striking 
south-westerly  joins  the  present  bed  at  the  foot  of  Holyoke, 
where  the  lo  debouches.  So  that  it  is  proper  to  say  that  the 
Connecticut  River  once  ran  east  of  the  site  of  the  Colleges, 
and  still  later  between  them  and  Hadley.  The  different 
streams  also  frequently  inosculated,  as  may  be  seen  on  the 
map,  and  the  hills  formed  islands.  Thus  at  least  two  old 
water  courses  can  be  traced  across  the  south  part  of  Amherst, 


MINERALS   AND   FOSSILS.  279 

and  one  along  the  south  base  of  Holyoke  in  South  Hadley, 
•where  a  small  stream  now  runs. 

At  Shelburne  Falls  is  an  old  river  bed  where  potholes  of 
considerable  depth  are  visible.  I  have  never  seen  any  in  the 
vicinity  of  Amherst. 

The  tracing  out  of  old  river  beds  is  a  subject  that  has  not 
much  engaged  the  attention  of  geologists.  But  it  seems  to  me 
to  be  a  very  rich  field  of  research. 

20.  ALLUVIUM. 

I  include  under  this  term  only  those  deposits  that  are  now 
being  formed  by  water  and  other  agencies  on  the  surface. 
The  rich  intervals  along  the  Connecticut  are  the  only  examples 
large  enough  to  be  represented  on  the  map,  although  on  a 
small  scale  they  are  presented  on  every  brook. 

21.  BOWLDERS. 

Under  this  head  I  have  merely  pointed  out  the  localities  of 
the  six  bowlders  large  enough  to  receive  distinct  names  that 
have  been  already  described. 

22.     VEINS  OF  COPPER  AND  LEAD. 

Two  or  three  of  these  occur  in  the  north  part  of  Leverett, 
in  that  peculiar  formation  of  granite  and  mica  schist  already 
described.  The  gangue  is  often  sulphate  of  baryta,  which  is 
itself  perhaps  more  valuable  than  the  metals.  These  veins 
may  prove  of  great  richness,  when  fully  explored. 

I  have  already  mentioned  a  fine  locality  of  amethysts  in 
Pelham.  I  obtained  a  still  larger  fragment  of  a  crystal  in  Lev 
erett,  and  probably  it  may  prove  a  frequent  mineral.  I  have 
also  one  or  two  good  specimens  of  beryl  from  Pelham,  and 
also  of  sulphuret  of  molybdenum.  In  the  south  part  of  the 
town  is  good  crystallised  quartz.  As  to  fossils  the  fishes  of 
Sunderland,  and  the  footmarks  of  Turner's  Falls,  Northampton, 
and  South  Hadley,  also  the  clathropteris  of  Easthampton, 
are  of  deep  interest.  The  western  hills  yield  several  fine 


280  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

minerals,  such  as  the  crystallized  spodumene  of  Norwich, 
the  only  known  locality,  the  rose  mica  and  beryl  of  Goshen, 
the  tourmalines  of  Chesterfield,  the  manganese  spar  of  Cum- 
mington,  &c. 

My  object  in  giving  this  brief  synopsis  of  the  geology 
around  Amherst  is  two-fold.  I  wish  to  show  what  facilities 
are  here  afforded  to  such  as  wish  to  pursue  that  branch. 
Secondly,  to  put  down  the  matured  results  of  my  examina 
tions,  which  I  have  given  in  no  work  that  I  have  published, 
and  which  may  afford  some  help  to  those  who  come  after 
me.  I  doubt  not  that  the  students  of  college  would  say  in 
view  of  the  summary  which  I  have  presented,  that  I  have 
opened  a  field  wide  enough  for  them  to  study,  but  have  not 
provided  them  with  the  time  to  explore  it.  But  the  time 
may  come  when  some  will  regard  this  subject  important 
enough  to  lead  them  to  devote  to  it  some  of  their  vacations, 
or  a  few  months  after  they  have  finished  their  classical 
course. 


PERSONAL  HISTORY.  281 


SECTION   VIII. 

PERSONAL     HISTORY. 

I  do  not  propose  to  go  into  a  full  autobiography  in  this 
section ;  but  only  quoad  hoc  ;  hoc  meaning  my  connection  with 
the  College.  Whatever  in  my  private  history  may  account 
for  my  success  or  want  of  success,  my  fitness  or  unfitness  for 
the  positions  I  have  occupied  here,  should  not  be  withheld. 

One  of  these  circumstances  was  the  comparative  poverty  of 
my  early  condition.  It  was  not  absolute  poverty,  for  my 
father  moved  among  the  most  respectable  of  the  people  of 
Deerfield,  where  I  was  born,  and  was  honored  among  them 
especially  by  being  chosen  deacon  of  the  Orthodox  church,  of 
which  he  was  long  one  of  the  strongest  pillars.  But  he  had 
to  struggle  hard  with  a  trade  not  very  lucrative,  to  feed,  clothe 
and  educate  a  large  family.  He  had  commenced  his  family 
career  during  the  Revolutionary  War,  in  which  he  had  been 
twice  engaged  as  a  soldier,  as  was  his  father,  who  fell  a  sacri 
fice  to  the  diseases  of  the  camp.  The  debts  which  he  contracted 
when  Continental  Notes  were  almost  the  only  money,  hung 
like  an  incubus  upon  him  nearly  all  his  life,  and  he  was 
relieved  only  when  his  sons  were  old  enough  to  aid  him.  But 
he  was  highly  intellectual  in  his  habits,  and  studied  theology 
especially  with  much  success.  Towards  the  close  of  life,  as 
but  few  sympathized  with  him  in  his  evangelical  views  of 
truth,  the  church  having  passed  into  Unitarian  hands,  and 
under  a  Unitarian  minister,  he  committed  many  of  his  thoughts 
to  writing,  and  some  of  the  essays  and  sermons  which  he  left 
would  do  no  discredit  to  educated  clergymen. 

It  cannot  be  doubted  that  such  a  father  would  do  all  he 
could  for  the  education  of  his  children.  We  were  first  carried 


282  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

thoroughly  through  the  primary  school,  and  then  had  the 
advantages  of  a  good  academy,  as  much  as  we  could  find  time 
and  means  to  improve.  But  he  could  go  no  farther  with  any 
of  us — he  had  three  sons.  And  nothing  was  before  me  but  a 
life  of  manual  labor.  But  as  I  had  a  great  aversion  to  being 
apprenticed  to  a  tradesman,  he  did  not  attempt  even  to  teach 
me  his  own  trade,  that  of  a  hatter.  Farming  was  the  only 
resort,  and  I  worked  on  the  farm — not  on  my  father's,  for  he 
had  none — but  on  land  hired  by  my  brother — I  know  not  how 
many  years.  I  liked  the  employment,  but  as  I  shall  state 
more  particularly  in  a  few  moments,  I  had  acquired  a  strong 
relish  for  scientific  pursuits,  and  I  seized  upon  every  moment 
I  could  secure — especially  rainy  days  and  evenings — for  those 
studies.  I  was  treated  very  leniently  by  my  father  and 
brother,  who  probably  did  not  know  what  to  do  with  me,  but 
saw  plainly  that  I  should  not  become  distinguished  as  a  farmer. 
My  literary  taste  was  also  greatly  encouraged  by  a  few  com 
panions  in  Deerfield  with  whom  I  united  in  a  society,  whose 
weekly  meetings  we  kept  up  for  years,  which  had  a  depart 
ment  for  debate,  and  another  for  philosophical  discussion.  I 
always  regarded  this  as  one  of  the  most  important  means  of 
mental  discipline  that  I  ever  enjoyed. 

But  perhaps  the  most  important  lesson  taught  me  by  my 
straitened  circumstances  was  habits  of  rigid  economy.  I 
learnt  that  these  were  more  important  than  a  large  income. 
I  learnt  the  value  of  money,  and  that  the  use  of  it  is  one  of 
those  talents  for  which  we  must  give  an  account.  It  has 
made  me  ever  since  opposed  to  any  useless  expenditure  of 
money  in  clothing,  food,  furniture,  servants,  equipage,  journey- 
ings,  &c.  I  have  been  opposed  to  large  salaries,  and  am 
confident  that  if  the  truth  Avere  known,  our  public  institutions, 
literary,  political  and  religious,  have  the  greatest  real  pros 
perity  when  their  officers'  salaries  have  been  low ;  for  the 
temptation  to  extravagance  with  an  increase  of  means  is  well 
nigh  irresistible.  I  have  always  felt  it  to  be  an  imperious 
duty  for  the  officers  of  a  literary  institution,  which  contains 


RELIGIOUS  VIEWS.  283 

indigent  young  men,  to  set  an  example  of  plainness  in  dress, 
equipage  and  living,  that  they  might  be  encouraged.  In 
respect  to  books,  apparatus  and  specimens,  and  even  objects 
to  improve  the  taste,  such  as  paintings,  statuary  and  vertu,  I 
would  counsel  as  large  an  expenditure  as  possible,  for  that  is 
true  economy ;  and  to  get  large  sums  for  these  and  benevolent 
objects  is  the  grand  purpose  of  economy  in  personal  expenses. 
But  I  have  ever  found  men  more  ready  to  call  your  economy 
parsimonious,  than  to  inquire  into  the  liberality  of  your  bene 
factions  for  worthy  objects. 

I  am  bound  to  state  that  in  my  religious  views  in  early  life 
I  did  not  sympathize  with  those  of  my  father,  but  rather  with 
the  Unitarian  notions  prevalent  in  Deerfield.  Hence,  when  at 
length  I  took  up  the  systematic  study  of  the  ancient  classics, 
I  aimed  to  fit  myself  to  pass  through  Harvard  University. 
Nor  was  it  through  any  voluntary  agency  of  my  own  that  this 
purpose  was  defeated  and  my  religious  views  changed,  but 
rather  in  spite  of  my  own  efforts,  and  in  apparent  opposition 
to  my  worldly  interests.  Providence  first  struck  down  my 
ability  to  study  in  a  manner  I  shall  shortly  detail,  and  thus 
by  cutting  off  my  worldly  prospects  led  me  to  inquire  on  what 
foundation  I  was  building  for  eternity,  and  a  prayerful  study 
of  the  inspired  volume  forced  me  to  give  up  inch  by  inch  the 
ground  on  which  I  had  tried  to  stand,  and  brought  me  into 
the  belief  which  became  cordial  as  soon  as  I  understood  it,  of 
the  plain  old-fashioned  doctrines  of  the  Puritans.  I  was  thus 
compelled  to  separate  myself  ecclesiastically  from  many  a 
valued  friend,  and  ever  since  I  have  felt  constrained  to  take 
that  stand  in  respect  to  many  whose  worldly  friendship  I 
highly  esteem.  It  has  been  a  heavy  cross ;  but  I  could  not 
shrink  from  it  with  a  good  conscience.  Hence  I  could  enter 
with  a  hearty  good  will  into  any  enterprise  that  promised  to 
aid  a  system  of  truth  on  which  my  eternal  hopes  rest,  and 
those  of  the  whole  human  family. 

For  the  formation  of  a  taste  for  science  I  was  doubtless 
indebted  to  my  uncle,  Major-General  Epaphras  Hoyt,  of 


284  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

Deerfield,  a  near  neighbor.  He  gave  the  most  attention  to 
military  science,  on  which  he  published  some  valuable  works, 
and  to  which  I  devoted  myself  with  considerable  interest, 
especially  to  fortification,  when  from  fifteen  to  eighteen  years 
of  age.  But  he  was  also  deeply  interested  in  astronomy  and 
natural  philosophy,  and  these  branches  became  my  favorites. 
The  great  comet  of  1811,  and  access  to  some  good  instruments 
for  observing  it,  belonging  to  Deerfield  Academy,  gave  me  a 
decided  bias  for  astronomy.  From  the  7th  of  September, 
1811,  to  the  17th  of  December,  corresponding  to  the  appear 
ance  and  disappearance  of  the  comet,  I  was  engaged  in  making 
observations,  not  only  on  the  comet's  distances  from  stars,  but 
on  the  latitude  and  longitude  by  lunar  distances  and  eclipses 
of  the  sun  and  moon,  and  on  the  variation  of  the  magnetic 
needle.  I  gave  myself  to  this  labor  so  assiduously  that  my 
health  failed,  and  I  well  remember  that  when  my  physician 
was  consulted  he  said,  "I  see  what  your  difficulty  is;  you 
have  got  the  comet's  tail  in  your  stomach."  To  reduce  my 
numerous  observations  cost  me  several  more  months  of  study, 
so  imperfect  were  the  means  of  calculation  in  my  hands.  Yet 
I  have  sometimes  thought,  when  looking  over  my  record  of 
these  observations  and  the  results,  that  they  might  almost  be 
worth  publication,  although  much  inferior  to  similar  works  in 
the  observatories  of  the  present  day.  Indeed,  General  Hoyt, 
under  whose  direction  I  labored,  and  who  often  aided  me  in 
observations,  communicated  some  of  them  to  the  American 
Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  and  they  were  published  by 
that  society.  But  I  experienced  great  benefit  from  the  work, 
in  the  mental  discipline  it  required,  and  I  acquired  a  strong 
love  for  theoretical  and  practical  astronomy.  I  became,  in 
fact,  such  an  enthusiast  in  this  respect,  that  I  could  cheer 
fully  forgo  every  ordinary  source  of  pleasure  sought  after  by 
young  men,  in  order  to  gratify  this  scientific  passion. 

But  I  was  destined  to  a  sad  disappointment  in  this,  my  first 
scientific  love.  I  had  for  a  considerable  time  been  engaged  in 
the  study  of  Latin  and  Greek,  in  the  hope  of  entering  the 


WEAK  EYES.  285 

University  at  Cambridge  in  advanced  standing,  and  using  my 
eyes  upon  Greek  during  an  attack  of  the  mumps,  a  sudden 
weakness  of  the  eyes  came  on  which  compelled  me  to  suspend 
nearly  all  study  and  to  change  the  whole  course  of  my  life, 
abandoning  a  college  course  as  impracticable,  and  for  a  time, 
nearly  all  hope  of  pursuing  science  or  literature  as  a  profes 
sion.  I  have  now  struggled  with  this  affliction  fifty  years,  and 
though  for  some  time  past,  through  the  kindness  of  Provi 
dence,  it  has  been  much  mitigated,  it  has  seemed  to  be  a  very 
serious  obstacle  to  my  literary  pursuits,  and  it  certainly  has 
produced  much  suffering.  I  am  not  sure,  however,  but  it  has 
been  a  merciful  check  upon  my  disposition  to  over-work,  and 
thereby  has  tended  to  lengthen  out  my  life  and  ability  to  labor. 
If  so,  how  thankful  I  ought  to  be  for  it. 

But  practical  astronomy  had  to  be  given  up.  Yet  it  cost 
me  a  pang,  as  the  following  lines  from  a  poem,  which  I  wrote 
at  the  time,  evince : — 

How  sweet,  divinely  sweet,  is  his  employ, 

Who  in  the  midnight  hour,  unseen  by  man, 

Looks  with  an  astronomic  eye  on  heaven ! 

Where  others  see  a  spark,  he  sees  a  sun ; 

Where  wild  confusion,  he  sweet  harmony. 

And  where  all  seems  by  chance,  he  sees  a  God — 

A  God  how  great,  how  mighty,  and  how  good ! 

He  lifts  his  tube,  a  loop-hole  to  the  skies — 

And  lo,  what  scenes  appear !    New  worlds,  new  suna, 

These  too  innumerable,  and  to  which 

A  microscopic  atom  is  the  earth. 

And  yet  if  earth  is  nought,  how  low  is  man, 

But  still  how  high,  to  grasp  such  mighty  scenes ! 

Sweet  too  it  is,  or  by  the  mural  arch, 
Or  zenith  sector,  or  the  quadrant's  limb, 
To  fix  the  places  of  unnumber'd  stars, 
To  find  the  planets'  places  and  their  paths, 
And  trace  the  mazes  of  the  comet's  course. 

Ah  lovely  scenes !  from  me  forever  gone ! 
Fled  like  the  transient  rainbow  from  the  clouds. 
Thou  bright  Arcturus,  Sirius  and  the  Lyre, 
And  thou  Orion,  Jupiter,  and  Moon, 
Ye  can  bear  witness  to  the  many  hours 
That  I  have  spent  with  you;— with  what  delight 


286  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

I  saw  you  through  the  witching  sextant's  tubes, 
And  read  your  altitude  upon  the  silver  arch. 
When  to  our  sphere  the  glowing  comet  came 
A  welcome  visitor.    But  now  no  more 
With  eager  gaze  I  see  you  on  the  mirror's  face; 
No  more  I  watch  thee,  Moon,  when  first  thy  limb 
Touches  the  Sun !     O  moment  of  delight 
Which  I  may  never  know  again.    For  now 
These  eyes  that  once  could  gaze  on  heaven  untir'd, 
Scarce  can,  endure  a  feeble  transient  glance. 

But  Providence  had  better  things  in  store  for  me  in  a  variety 
of  respects  to  which  this  trying  failure  of  my  eyes  and  blasting 
of  my  plans  and  hopes  would  introduce  me.  To  say  nothing 
of  spiritual  blessings,  new  fields  of  science  were  thus  to  be 
opened  to  me  where  wonders  yet  more  attractive  awaited  me. 
My  eyes  failed  in  the  spring  of  1814,  and  for  two  years  dark 
ness  that  might  be  felt  rested  upon  my  prospects.  Still  I  could 
not  give  up  study,  and  tried  all  manner  of  ways  to  make  some 
progress.  In  1816,  the  Trustees  of  Deerfield  Academy  ven 
tured  to  commit  that  Institution  to  my  care,  where  for  three 
years  I  labored  intensely  to  maintain  myself  in  spite  of  a 
defective  education,  weak  eyes,  and  poor  health.  It  was  at 
this  time  that  I  commenced  study  for  the  Christian  ministry, 
having  been  led  by  my  trials  to  feel  the  infinite  importance 
of  eternal  things,  and  the  duty  of  consecrating  myself  to  the 
promotion  of  God's  glory  and  man's  highest  good.  There  too, 
at  first,  chiefly  as  a  means  of  promoting  health,  my  attention 
was  turned  to  Natural  History.  About  that  time  Professor 
Amos  Eaton  had  been  lecturing  at  Amherst,  and  we  became 
acquainted  with  him,  and  I  always  regarded  him  as  the  chief 
agent  of  introducing  a  taste  for  these  subjects  into  the  Connec^ 
ticut  Valley.  Dr.  Stephen  W.  Williams,  Dr.  Dennis  Cooley, 
and  myself,  all  of  Deerfield,  took  hold  of  mineralogy  and  botany 
with  great  zeal.  Dr.  Cooley  and  myself  collected  nearly  all 
the  plants,  phenogamous  and  cryptogamous  in  the  Valley. 
Dr.  Cooley  became  an  excellent  botanist,  and  even  to  a  recent 
date,  when  he  died  in  Michigan,  has  pursued  the  subject  with 


THE   RATTLESNAKE.  287 

zest.  Dr.  Williams  afterwards  became  Professor  of  Medical 
Jurisprudence  in  the  Berkshire  Medical  School. 

I  well  remember  an  incident  that  occurred  on  my  first 
mineralogical  excursion  among  the  trap  debris  of  Deerfield 
Mountain,  in  company  with  Dr.  Williams.  As  I  stopped  a 
moment  upon  the  loose  fragments,  Dr.  W.  cried  out,  "  You 
stand  upon  a  rattlesnake  !  "  Looking  down,  I  found  a  spotted 
snake  stretched  out  between  two  fragments  on  which  my  heel 
and  toe  so  rested  that  he  was  not  crowded,  and  so  was  not 
particularly  trou^ed.  I  did  not  kill  the  snake,  and  was  after 
wards  led  to  doubt  whether  it  was  a  rattlesnake.  It  certainly 
looked  like  a  small  one,  and  had  upon  me  the  same  effect  as  if 
no  doubt  had  subsequently  arisen.  But  I  think  instead  of 
leading  me  to  abandon  mineralogy,  it  rather  quickened  my  love 
of  excursions  among  the  rocks. 

A  leading  object  I  had  in  view  in  commencing  the  study  of 
natural  history  was  its  influence  upon  health.  That  same 
motive,  as  well  as  a  strong  love  for  the  pursuit  which  I  had 
acquired,  led  me  to  continue  its  cultivation  after  I  was  settled 
in  the  ministry,  which  took  place  June  21st,  1821.  The 
excursions  in  the  fields  and  the  mountains,  demanded  by  these 
pursuits,  have  ever  since  been  with  me  a  most  important 
means  of  resisting  the  progress  of  disease,  which  early  and 
incessantly  has  been  at  work  in  my  constitution.  My  parish 
in  Conway  was  a  large  one,  and  four  years'  labor  there,  with 
one  or  two  extensive  revivals,  brought  me  into  such  a  state 
of  health  that  I  felt  as  if  I  must  get  released.  About  the 
same  time  the  Trustees  of  Amherst  College,  knowing  my 
penchant  for  science,  appointed  me  Professor  of  Natural  His 
tory  and  Chemistry.  It  seemed  to  me  probable  that  the 
change,  and  the  great  amount  of  physical  exercise  requisite 
in  such  a  professorship,  might  enable  me  to  hold  out  a  few 
years.  This  was  all  I  then  expected.  In  my  request  to  the 
church  in  Conway  for  a  dismission,  I  said  that  "the  sole 
reason  why  I  make  this  request  is  the  feeble  state  of  my 
health,"  and  that  "I  do  not  believe  it  to  be  right,  in  ordinary 


288  REMINISCENCES   OP  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

cases,  for  a  person  to  leave  the  ministry  for  the  place  of  a 
professor."  The  Council  that  dismissed  me  say  also  in  their 
result,  that  "the  Council  cannot  feel  themselves  justified  to 
dismiss  him  for  the  sake  of  a  professorship  at  Amherst  College 
or  any  other  literary  institution,"  but  solely  because  "  they  are 
constrained  to  believe  that  his  health  is  so  seriously  impaired 
as  entirely  to  preclude  all  reasonable  prospect  of  his  being 
able  to  serve  them  (the  people)  permanently  and  profitably  in 
the  duties  of  the  ministry." 

I  was  dismissed  October  25th,  1825,  and  went  to  New 
Haven  with  Mrs.  H.,  where  I  stayed  till  the  early  part  of 
January,  1826,  in  the  laboratory  of  Prof.  Silliman,  by  whose 
kindness  and  instruction  my  sojourn  there  was  made  most 
profitable.  I  there  learnt  how  to  perform  chemical  experi 
ments  so  that  they  should  rarely  fail,  and  this  is  the  grand 
secret  of  success  in  that  department.  The  two  principal  rules 
for  securing  success  were  these,  and  I  had  them  fixed  to  the 
wall  of  the  laboratory  : 

1.  Never  attempt  an  experiment  in  public  which  you  have 
not  within  a  few  hours  performed  in  private. 

2.  No  apology  to  be  ever  given  or  received  by  any  one  in 
the  laboratory  for  a  failure,  but  it  is  to  be  set  down  as  detract 
ing  so  much  from  the  skill  of  the  operator. 

From  1826  to  1845  I  delivered  twenty  full  courses  on 
Chemistry ;  that  is  one  to  each  class. 

When  I  joined  the  College  in  the  winter  of  1826,  there  was 
no  laboratory,  no  philosophical  cabinet,  no  natural  history 
cabinet,  and  no  chapel.  Two  dormitory  buildings  had  been 
erected,  and  in  the  fourth  story  of  the  most  northerly  of  these 
(the  present  North  College  South  Entry)  two  rooms  were 
thrown  together,  a  platform  built  on  which  was  placed  a  small 
tub-like  pulpit,  which  could  be  moved  off  to  allow  the  •Pro 
fessor  of  Natural  Philosophy  to  lecture  one  part  of  the  day 
and  the  Professor  of  Chemistry  the  other  part,  taking  care  to 
finish  before  evening  prayers.  There  I  spent  most  of  the  day 
in  preparation  of  the  next  morning's  lecture,  and  I  recollect 


COLLEGE   CHARTER.  289 

how  my  risibles  were  tried  one  evening  after  I  had  been 
manipulating  with  chlorine  during  the  day  to  hear  Dr. 
Humphrey  in  his  introductory  petition,  apparently  unconscious 
of  the  odor  that  was  in  the  room,  which  the  students  were 
snuffing  at,  pray  that  the  Lord  might  smell  a  sweet  savor 
from  our  offering. 

I  became  connected  with  Amherst  College  the  same  year  in 
which  it  obtained  a  charter  from  the  State  legislature,  so  that 
my  connection  with  it  has  been  as  long  as  its  legal  existence. 
Yet  its  Trustees  had  graduated  four  Classes  before  that  time, 
viz. :  in  1821, 1822,  1823  and  182 4,  and  I  never  heard  any  com 
plaint  that  their  diplomas  were  not  as  good  a  passport  to  public 
confidence  as  any  issued  since.  Nor  did  the  College  experi 
ence  any  pecuniary  benefit  from  this  recognition  by  the  State, 
for  more  than  twenty  years.  The  truth  is,  a  charter  was 
obtained  because  the  injustice  of  withholding  it  had  become  so 
palpable  that  the  legislature  dare  not  longer  refuse ;  and  I  am 
afraid  that  this  motive  has  always  entered  largely  into  the 
feelings  of  the  government  towards  the  College.  The  grand 
difficulty  has  ever  been  that  the  College  was  a  decidedly 
religious  enterprise — not  in  the  loose  sense  often  attached  to 
that  phrase,  but  in  the  very  definite  sense  of  promoting  evan 
gelical  religion ;  and  the  opposition  to  this  conjoined  with  that 
springing  from  local  interests  that  were  aifected,  was  generally 
sufficient  to  prevent  a  majority  even  of  a  Massachusetts  legis 
lature  from  giving  that  aid  and  encouragement  to  the  institution 
which  the  State  liberality  to  other  institutions  demanded. 

CHARACTER  AND  AMOUNT    OP   MY    COLLEGE    DUTIES   AS 

PROFESSOR. 

On  the  catalogues  for  1825  and  1826  my  title  appears  as 
Professor  of  Natural  History  and  Chemistry.  The  order  of 
these  subjects  was  changed  on  the  subsequent  catalogues,  and 
continued  thus  till  1845.  For  nearly  twenty  years  I  had 
entire  charge  of  these  two  wide  fields,  except  that  in  1843 
Mr.  Shepard  was  appointed  Lecturer  on  Agricultural  Chemis- 
13 


290  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

try  and  Mineralogy.  But  it  should  be  recollected  that  these 
branches,  especially  natural  history,  thirty  years  ago  were 
but  little  thought  of  in  this  country,  and  were  in  fact  in  com 
parative  infancy.  And  besides,  we  had  then  next  to  no  collec 
tions,  and  a  leading  object  before  me  was  to  provide  them. 
Indeed,  I  may  state  it  as  a  general  fact,  that  in  all  the  subjects 
in  which  I  have  given  instruction  in  Amherst  College  I  have 
been  obliged  to  provide  the  apparatus,  models  and  specimens, 
sometimes  with,  but  more  often  without,  funds,  except  my 
private  resources.  Nevertheless,  my  first  courses  of  lectures 
and  recitations  were  nearly  as  extensive  as  they  have  been 
since.  They  averaged  nearly  four  exercises  per  week,  or 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  in  the  year.  In,  particular 
branches,  as  new  instructors  have  been  appointed,  more  time 
has  been  given.  For  instance,  when  Professor  Adams  took 
the  department  of  zoology  he  was  allowed  from  thirty  to  forty 
recitations  and  lectures,  as  was  also  Professor  Clark,  though 
for  what  reason  I  know  not  they  have  since  been  reduced  to 
ten  lectures,  which  is  equivalent  to  five  recitations ;  for  it  is 
common  now  to  put  lectures  in  different  departments  side  by 
side,  so  that  two  shall  be  equal  to  one  recitation — that  is  a 
half  day.  Even  in  its  infant  days  I  never  gave  less  than 
twenty  or  thirty  lectures  on  zoology — say  ten  to  fifteen  on 
mammalogy,  ornithology,  herpetology,  and  ichthyology,  and 
ten  to  fifteen  on  conchology  and  the  other  branches  of  inverte 
brate  zoology ;  also  ten  to  fifteen  on  botany.  At  this  day  all 
those  important  discussions  respecting  the  distribution  of 
species,  their  metamorphosis,  and  the  unity  of  the  human 
species  must  require  several  more  lectures,  or  it  is  impossible 
to  teach  graduates  how  to  defend  religion  against  the  assaults 
of  sceptics. 

In  1845,  Professor  Shepard  took  the  same  title  which  I 
had  retained  to  that  time,  viz..  Professor  of  Chemistry  and 
Natural  History,  which  was  changed  to  Massachusetts  Pro 
fessor  of  the  same,  in  1847,  when  C.  B.  Adams  was  elected 
Professor  of  Astronomy  and  Curator  of  the  Cabinet,  which 


SCIENCE   AND   RELIGION.  291 

made  him  virtually,  as  he  was  made  nominally,  the  next 
year,  Professor  of  Zoology,  which  post  he  occupied  till  1852, 
when  he  died.  Professor  Shepard,  I  believe,  has  not  lectured 
on  any  branch  of  natural  history,  except  mineralogy  and 
astrolithology.  I  have  always  retained  geology,  but  gave 
up  chemistry  when  I  took  the  Presidency,  and  my  title  ever 
since  has  been  Professor  of  Natural  Theology  and  Geology. 
In  1852,  W.  S.  Clark  was  appointed  Professor  of  Analyti 
cal  and  Applied  Chemistry.  To  this  Zoology  was  added  in 
1853,  and  in  1854  to  1858  his  title  was  Professor  of  Chem 
istry,  Zoology  and  Botany.  In  1858,  he  dropped  all  but 
chemistry,  and  that  is  his  present  title.  In  1854,  Professor 
Mallet  took  the  title  of  Professor  of  Analytical  and  Applied 
Chemistry.  In  1858,  E.  Tuckerman  was  appointed  Professor 
of  Botany  and  C.  H.  Hitchcock  Lecturer  on  Zoology  and 
Curator  of  the  Cabinet. 

The  title  of  Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Natural  History, 
which  I   had   for   twenty  years,    conveys  but    an    imperfect 
idea  of  what  I  attempted  to  teach,    or  rather  of   the  grand 
object  I  had  in  view.     That  object  was  to  illustrate,  by  the 
scientific   facts    which    I   taught,    the   principles    of    natural 
theology.     This  I  stated  at  the  commencement  of  my  course 
and  on  other  proper  occasions.     At  length-  when  I  became 
President,  I  took  natural  theology  as  the  leading  title  of  my 
professorship.       And    really    the    instruction   given   in    the 
natural  sciences  in  college  is  scarcely  more — often  less — than 
is  necessary  to  understand  their  religious  bearing.     But  this 
is  their  most  important  use,  as  it  is  of  all  knowledge,  and  this 
thought  I  made  the  basis  of  my  Inaugural  Address,  when 
inducted  into  the  Presidency.      I  had  endeavored  to  act  on 
this  principle  in  all  my  teaching ;  but  now  I  put  it  into  the 
form  of  a  professorship,  and  a  richer  or  nobler  field  1  do  not 
know  in  the  whole  circle  of  science.     I  called  it  a  Professor 
ship  of  Natural  Theology    and   Geology,    adding  this  latter 
science  because  I  have  been  in  the  habit  of  going  more  into 


292  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

detail  concerning  it,  and  because  no  science  equals  this  in  its 
religious  applications. 

It  was  a  deep  conviction  of  the  importance  of  such  a  profes 
sorship  that  led  me  to  seek  its  endowment.  The  manner  in 
which  it  was  secured  has  already  been  referred  to.  Mr. 
"VYilliston  had  just  agreed  to  endow  a  professorship,  which 
was  finally  called  the  Graves  Professorship,  in  honor  of 
Mrs.  Williston's  maiden  name,  and  he  offered  to  give  half 
enough  to  endow  another,  if  some  gentleman  could  be  found 
to  take  the  other  half  and  proffer  his  name  to  the  whole.  I 
immediately  communicated  with  Samuel  A.  Hitchcock,  of 
Brimfield,  and  I  merely  stated  the  case  and  told  him  that  as 
he  was  childless,  I  wanted  he  should  make  the  Professorship 
of  Natural  Theology  and  Geology  his  heir,  and  that  so  long 
as  I  was  connected  with  the  College,  I  would  fill  the  chair, 
and  thus  make  it  a  Hitchcock  affair  all  round.  The  conceit 
struck  him  favorably,  and  by  return  mail  the  proposal  was 
accepted.  Subsequently,  through  fear  that  some  of  his  secu- 
ties  might  fall  below  par,  he  added  two  thousand  dollars  more, 
making  the  whole  endowment  twenty-two  thousand  dollars, 
which  is  the  largest  among  the  professorships,  and  the  income 
is  almost  sufficient  to  sustain  two  professors. 

The  object  I  had  in  view  in  seeking  this  endowment,  and  that 
of  the  donors  was  the  same,  was  to  secure  permanent  instruction 
in  geology  and  natural  theology,  in  their  connected  form  :  for 
it  was  not  so  much  the  metaphysical  natural  theology  of  past 
times  which  I  had  in  view,  as  those  principles  and  questions 
which  have  sprung  from  modern  physical  and  natural  science, 
and  which  can  be  treated  ably  only  by  one  familiar  with  the 
sciences.  Hence,  although  other  subjects,  such  as  physiology 
or  zoology,  might  be  added  to  this  professorship,  neither 
geology  nor  natural  theology  could  be  taken  from  it,  without 
destroying  it,  and  forfeiting  the  endowment.  I  cannot  believe 
that  the  Trustees  will  ever  allow  any  such  perversion  of  the 
Hitchcock  Professorship,  and  thus  incur  the  odium  of  present 
and  future  generations. 


ANATOMY.  293 

There  are  two  branches  of  science,  the  history  of  whose 
introduction  into  my  department  deserves  some  notice,  because 
they  appear  nowhere  on  our  catalogues  in  connection  with 
my  name,  although  I  have  devoted  to  them  no  little  time  and 
money.  I  have  already  briefly  referred  to  them  in  giving  an 
account  of  the  Zoological  Cabinet,  and  promised  the  details 
in  this  place.  I  have  reference  to  anatomy  and  physiology. 
In  the  earlier  periods  of  the  College,  I  believe  Dr.  Humphrey 
had  either  given  some  lectures,  or  heard  some  recitations  on 
the  subject,  and  in  1835,  Dr.  Post,  of  New  York,  delivered  a 
course  of  lectures ;  and  I  think  at  an  earlier  date,  Dr.  J.  V.  C. 
Smith,  of  Boston,  had  once,  and  perhaps  twice,  done  the  same. 
But  the  College  had  not  a  single  anatomical  model  or  prepara 
tion,  not  even  a  skeleton,  nor  any  of  the  large  works  on  anat 
omy  ;  and  of  course  the  instruction  given  must  be  very  meagre. 
I  had  long  been  giving  my  attention  to  the  subject,  and  intro 
ducing  it  more  and  more  in  illustration  of  .natural  religion. 
Moreover  it  seemed  a  shame  to  profess  to  give  young  men  a 
liberal  education,  and  yet  leave  them  ignorant  of  their  own 
bodies,  so  curiously  and  wonderfully  made.  Yet  I  had  never 
studied  anatomy  professionally,  and  therefore  it  would  hardly 
do  for  me  to  be  announced  as  the  teacher  of  it.  Yet  as  a 
matter  of  fact  I  became  more  and  more  so.  But  I  knew  the 
College  to  be  too  poor — for  that  was  the  period  of  its  deepest 
poverty — to  procure  the  requisite  illustrations.  I  therefore 
obtained,  in  1843,  with  my  own  funds,  a  seven  hundred  dollar 
manikin,  with  a  skeleton,  and  many  other  models,  and  then 
wrote  out  a  systematic  course  of  lectures,  say  twenty-five, 
which  I  continued  yearly  to  give  till  1861,  when  I  gave  over 
the  subject  into  the  hands  of  my  oldest  son,  as  Professor  of 
Hygiene  and  Physical  Education.  For  the  use  of  the  appa 
ratus  I  received  a  fee  for  several  years  from  the  classes, 
amounting  to  sums  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  dollars  annually. 
But  I  did  not  like  the  idea  of  imposing  such  a  tax,  and  in 
1854  I  told  the  Trustees  if  they  would  abolish  the  tax  I  would 


294  REMINISCENCES   OF  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

give  the  use  of  the  models  and  drawings,  and  since  that  time 
they  have  been  used  gratuitously. 

I  have  referred  to  anatomical  drawings.  These  were  not 
very  extensive,  but  enough  so  with  the  models  for  a  course 
of  twenty-five  lectures.  They  were  executed  by  Mrs.  Hitch 
cock,  and  I  ought  here  to  record  my  deep  indebtedness  to  her 
for  that  immense  amount  of  illustrations  which  her  pencil  has 
furnished  me  in  all  the  departments  of  instruction  in  which  I 
have  engaged.  They  cover  many  thousand  square  feet  of 
surface,  and  illustrate  the  principles  of  botany,  geology, 
zoology  and  anatomy.  The  College  has  never  had  any  funds 
which  it  could  devote  to  procure  these  indispensable  aids  to 
the  lecturer,  and  therefore  I  never  asked  any ;  nor  have  I  had 
the  requisite  private  funds  for  the  purpose.  But  Mrs.  Hitch 
cock  has  been  steadily  at  work  for  thirty-six  years,  whenever 
called  upon  to  supply  my  numerous  demands.  And  that  too 
without  the  slightest  pecuniary  compensation,  or  the  hope  of 
artistic  reputation ;  for  so  large  and  coarse  have  been  most 
of  the  drawings  that  she  never  felt  flattered  to  have  others 
told  that  she  was  the  author  of  them.  And  yet  the  outlines 
even  of  the  largest  are  drawn  with  remarkable  truthfulness ; 
witness,  for  instance,  the  Iguanodon,  which  as  first  drawn  was 
seventy  feet  long.  I  am  sure  that  $1,000,  or  even  $2,000, 
would  not  have  procured  the  drawings  which  she  has  furnished 
me,  and  that  may  be  looked  on  as  her  donation  to  the  College, 
while  to  myself  money  would  poorly  represent  my  indebted 
ness,  since  without  this  aid  I  never  could  have  intelligibly 
explained  or  given  any  interest  to  the  subjects  of  my  lectures. 

A  review  of  this  chapter  in  my  history  awakens  sad  remin 
iscences.  For  it  reveals  the  great  failure  of  my  life.  As 
I  became  more  and  more  deeply  interested  in  natural  theol 
ogy,  the  desire  sprang  up  within  me  to  make  it  the  great  object 
of  my  life  to  prepare  a  full  work  on  that  subject,  in  which  all 
its  great  principles  should  be  stated  and  fully  illustrated  by 
modern  science.  Hitherto  all  the  works  that  have  appeared 
have  given  only  brief  generalities  or  discussions  of  particular 


DISAPPOINTMENT.  295 

points.  Moreover  that  rich  part  of  the  field  where  natural  and 
revealed  religion  afford  mutual  illustration,  has  yet  been  but 
most  imperfectly  explored.  I  knew  that  such  a  work  as  I 
contemplated  must  be  undertaken  late  in  life,  not  till  twenty  or 
thirty  years  had  been  spent  in  exploring  the  field.  At  the 
time  I  accepted  the  Presidency,  I  \vas  almost  ready  to  begin. 
Nay,  I  had  long  been  throwing  out  insulated  fragments  in  my 
"  Religion  of  Geology,"  and  articles  in  the  "Bibliotheca  Sacra  " 
and  "  Biblical  Repository,"  &c.,  which  I  hoped  at  length  to 
convert  into  one  complete  and  compacted  system.  But  as  I 
said  in  my  Valedictory  Address,  "  I  perceived,  that  if  I  accepted 
the  Presidency,  that  object  must  be  abandoned,  as  in  fact  it 
has  been ;  for  the  sands  of  my  life  are  too  nearly  run,  I  fear, 
to  resume  it  now,  and  so  I  must  leave  only  disconnected  frag 
ments  of  what  I  had  hoped  to  bring  out  in  a  perfected  system. 
But  when  I  saw  how  much  more  important  was  the  welfare  of 
the  Institution  than  any  of  my  literary  plans,  or  health,  or  even 
life,  I  yielded  to  what  seemed  duty,  nor  does  my  decision 
appear  erroneous  as  I  look  at  it  in  retrospect."  I  dare  not  refuse 
to  lay  this  darling  object  upon  the  altar  at  God's  command, 
satisfied  that  God  never  intended  I  should  have  the  honor  of 
executing  such  a  work,  however  important,  probably  because  I 
was  not  fit  for  it.  If  I  might  feel  that  he  was  saying  to  me  as 
he  once  did  to  David — "  Whereas  it  was  in  thy  heart  to  build  a 
house  to  my  name,  thou  didst  ivell  that  it  was  in  thy  heart"  I 
should  be  content ;  and  oh,  if  I  could  appropriate  to  me  and 
mine.the  next  sentence  addressed  to  David,  (1  Kings,  viii.  19,) 
how  calmly  and  even  rejoicingly  could  I  acquiesce  in  his  Provi 
dence.  Nevertheless,  let  these  disclosures  show  to  any  who 
may  have  mistaken  the  secret  springs  of  my  labors,  that 
scientific  reputation  was  not  the  culmination  of  my  ambition,  but 
the  higher  object  of  making  science  illustrate  the  Divine  Glory. 
Whatever  I  have  done  in  that  direction  affords  me  a  far  higher 
gratification  than  the  most  decided  scientific  success. 

During   my  twenty  years'  experience   in   teaching   before 
assuming  the  Presidency,  some  exigencies  occurred  in  which  I 


296  REMINISCENCES  OF  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

was  called  to  give  instruction  in  branches  quite  foreign  to  the 
title  of  my  professorship,  which  duty  I  attempted  because, 
according  to  my  notions,  every  officer  is  bound  to  take  part  in 
those  miscellaneous  duties  not  properly  falling  into  any  depart 
ment,  and  therefore  devolving  upon  the  President,  if  no  one 
comes  to  his  aid.  For  years  I  conducted  a  weekly  Thursday 
exercise  on  the  Bible  in  the  junior  or  senior  class.  Not  having 
a  text-book,  I  made  the  exercise  partly  by  lecture  and  partly 
by  question  upon  a  subject  previously  given  out,  and  in  that 
way  went  over  the  most  important  doctrines  of  the  Bible, 
taking  care  to  bring  out  the  leading  objections  of  scepticism. 
Though  such  an  exercise  did  not  require  so  much  preparation 
on  the  part  of  the  student  as  was  desirable,  except  when  we 
used  such  works  as  "  Knapp's  Theology,"  or  "  Storr  and  Flatt's 
Biblical  Theology,"  yet  it  did  seem  to  me  to  have  done  much 
good,  and  by  devoting  Thursday  afternoon  to  the  study  of  the 
Bible,  as  was  done  till  quite  recently,  a  public  testimony  was 
given  to  the  authority  and  value  of  the  Bible ;  and  though 
there  may  have  been  good  reasons  for  giving  up  this  practice, 
it  is  not  likely  that  one,  who  like  myself  had  followed  it  so 
many  years,  can  ever  become  quite  reconciled  to  the  change. 

One  summer  I  was  called  to  hear  the  recitations  of  the 
Junior  Class  in  Astronomy,  which  I  did  with  great  pleasure, 
it  being  my  favorite  science.  Probably,  however,  the  exercise 
profited  me  quite  as  much  as  it  did  the  Class. 

Another  subject  which  I  was  quite  unexpectedly  called  upon 
to  teach  in  1828  was  Fortification.  That  was  the  year^wlii-n 
a  new  Parallel  Course  of  Study  was  introduced  substituting 
for  the  ancient  classics  after  the  first  year  modern  languages 
and  science.  A  number  had  taken  the  New  Course  and  it 
became  necessary  to  supply  them  with  instruction.  My 
knowledge  of  Fortification  was  called  into  requisition,  and  I 
explained  its  principles  chiefly  by  familiar  lectures.  When  I 
enlisted  in  the  army  of  the  Prince  of  Peace,  and  even  became 
a  standard-bearer  in  it,  I  concluded  that  my  knowledge  of  the 
principles  of  carnal  warfare  would  never  be  of  further  use. 


TEMPERANCE  LABORS.  297 

But  when  thus  called  to  employ  it,  I  made  up  my  mind  that 
whatever  knowledge  a  man  acquires  in  early  life  he  need  not 
fear  but  some  time  or  other  in  the  course  of  his  life  it  will 
come  into  play. 

During  the  summer  of  1835  Dr.  Humphrey  was  absent  in 
Europe  and  I  consented  to  act  as  his  locum  tenens,  and  of 
course  had  a  taste  of  the  duties  of  President  during  term  time 
and  at  Commencement ;  and  though  nothing  unpleasant 
occurred,  it  was  not  such  an  experience  as  prejudiced  me  in 
favor  of  a  permanent  acceptance  of  the  office  when,  some  years 
afterwards,  it  was  offered  to  me,  for  I  saw  at  once  that  such  a 
position  must  compel  a  man  to  hold  in  abeyance  nearly  all  his 
literary  and  scientific  plans. 

EFFORTS  ON  THE  SUBJECT  OF  TEMPERANCE. 
The  efforts  which  I  made  to  promote  temperance  in  College 
so  far  as  intoxicating  and  narcotic  substances  were  concerned, 
have  already  in  a  good  measure  been  described.  But  they 
took  a  wider  range  and  embraced  the  whole  subjects  of  diet, 
regimen  and  employment.  I  had  never  been  intemperate  in 
any  of  these  respects,  unless  it  were  by  excessive  labor.  But 
as  to  food  and  drink  I  had  lived  in  the  plain  manner  common 
among  farmers,  made  more  rigidly  plain  by  poverty.  But  in 
early  life  I  had  been  troubled  with  what  seemed  to  be  a 
scrofulous  diathesis  to  which  was  added  a  dyspeptic  habit, 
before  the  age  of  twenty.  This  had  become  at  length  the 
great  torment  of  my  life,  and  bid  fair  to  lay  me  upon  the  shelf. 
I  began  to  inquire  whether  my  dietetic  habits  could  not  be 
improved.  I  studied  the  leading  works  on  Hygiene  from 
Chenye  to  James  Johnson,  and  by  adopting  their  lead 
ing  principles  I  found  great  relief,  though  my  troubles 
were  so  deeply  constitutional,  and  perhaps  hereditary  on 
my  mother's  side,  that  entire  restoration  to  health  was  out 
of  the  question.  But  I  learnt,  I  thought,  how  u  Dyspepsia 
might  be  Forestalled  and  Resisted."  And  my  zeal  led  me 
to  attempt  to  teach  the  art  to  the  young  men  in  College, 
13* 


298  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

who  in  those  days  were  far  more  troubled  with  these  hundred- 
headed  complaints  than  in  these  gymnastic  times,  and  so  were 
the  community  generally.  My  system  was  rather  rigid,  and 
drawn  out  with  the  enthusiasm  of  one  who  found  himself 
thereby  greatly  relieved,  and  his  ability  to  study  and  to  labor 
very  much  increased.  But  it  needed  modification  to  suit  all 
cases.  Hence  the  most  contradictory  statements  of  its  effects 
on  individuals  came  to  my  knowledge.  In  by  far  the  greater 
number,  decided  benefit  had  resulted,  and  I  was  regarded  as 
a  great  benefactor.  But  in  some  cases  individuals  found 
themselves  growing  weaker,  but  I  never  heard  of  any  one 
who  received  permanent  injury.  On  two  points,  at  least, 
my  views  were  quite  extensively  misunderstood,  probably 
from  my  defective  mode  of  description.  One  was  that  I 
recommended  eating  by  the  scales,  that  is,  weighing  the  food 
eaten.  Another  was  that  I  went  against  the  use  of  meat.  I 
never  recommended  the  first  except  as  a  means  of  showing  a 
man  how  much  he  was  in  the  habit  of  eating.  And  as  to  the 
latter,  I  only  went  against  the  excessive  use  of  meat,  unless 
in  particular  cases,  where  its  entire  disuse  might  be  found 
beneficial  by  trial.  My  fundamental  principle  was  to  make 
use  of  such  kinds  .of  food,  and  in  such  quantity,  as  will  give 
the  greatest  continued  vigor  and  activity,  both  to  mind  and 
body,  whether  it  need  only  the  twelve  ounces  of  Cornaro 
daily,  or  the  twelve  pounds  of  the  Esquimaux.  Nor  did  I 
object  to  variety  in  diet,  only  that  it  should  not  be  great 
at  any  one  meal.  Since  my  lectures  were  published,  the 
discoveries  of  chemists  as  to  the  composition  of  food  have 
made  me  more  liberal,  perhaps,  in  the  matter  of  variety  in 
food  than  formerly,  when  it  was  understood  that  nitrogen  did 
not  exist  in  vegetable  products.  Indeed,  since  it  is  known 
that  all  the  elements  and  proximate  principles  essential  to 
nourishment  are  found  both  in  vegetable  and  animal  products 
used  for  food,  I  regard  it  as  comparatively  unimportant,  on 
what  sorts  of  food  we  live,  except  that  some  are  more  nourish 
ing  and  easier  of  digestion  than  others.  Hence  I  am  ready 


PRESENT  VIEWS.  299 

to  partake  of  what  is  set  before  me,  and  can  be  satisfied  with 
a  very  meagre  cuisine.  Or  if  tempted  by  an  abundant  larder, 
I  have  only  to  put  a  knife  to  my  throat  and  I  feel  safe.  At 
any  rate  I  had  rather  suffer  from  a  moderate  dyspeptic  attack 
than  to  manifest  fastidiousness  about  particular  kinds  of  food 
and  thus  attract  notice  for  singularity. 

In  no  way,  perhaps,  have  I  made  myself  more  widely,  and 
perhaps  I  may  say  unfavorably  known,  than  by  my  lectures  in 
the  College,  and  three  sermons  in  the  National  Preacher  on 
Diet  and  Regimen.  I  did  indeed  give  some  severe,  and  per 
haps  uncharitable  blows,  against  some  of  the  dietetic  habits 
of  the  community,  and  it  seemed  to  be  taken  for  granted  that 
the  abstemious  system  which  I  advocated  was  first  started  by 
myself,  and  a  mere  idiosyncratic  assault  upon  the  peace  and 
comfort  of  society.  The  thousands  of  authors — a  large  part 
of  them  physicians — from  whom  most  of  my  rules  were 
derived,  were  ignored,  and  I  was  made  the  scapegoat  of  them 
all.  The  truth  is,  the  most  unpardonable  of  all  sins  is  to 
attack  a  man's  habits  of  eating  and  drinking,  and  the  more 
objectionable  these  habits  are  the  more  irritable  will  he  be 
under  your  probe.' 

In  later  times  I  have  been  sometimes  asked  whether  I  still 
maintain,  either  theoretically  or  practically,  those  views  in 
regard  to  food,  drink  and  regimen,  which  I  publicly  defended 
more  than  thirty  years  ago.  In  reply  I  have  said  that  I 
never  professed  or  expected  in  my  practice  to  come  up  to 
those  rules ;  but  that  if  the  rules  were  strict  I  should  come 
nearer  to  a  true  standard  than  if  they  were  low  and  lax.  As 
to  the  great  principles  of  my  system  of  1830,  I  cannot  see 
why  they  are  not  correct,  though  I  should  now  state  them 
with  some  modifications  resulting  from  chemical  discoveries 
and  larger  experience.  I  should  be  less  rigid  now,  as  already 
intimated,  in  respect  to  variety  in  diet,  though  equally  opposed 
to  crowding  too  many  sorts  into  the  same  meal.  The  grand 
points  which  I  regard  as  most  important  in  theory,  and  which 
I  have  aimed  at  in  my  practice,  are  as  much  simplicity  in  my 


800  REMINISCENCES  OF  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

diet  as  possible,  and  never  to  overload  nature  by  indulging  a 
perverted  appetite.  I  think  more,  perhaps,  of  the  adaptation 
of  diet  to  employment,  the  seasons,  and  the  state  of  health, 
and  of  the  salutary  influence  of  an  occasional  change  of 
living,  even  if  it  bring  a  more  liberal  allowance,  as  on  jour 
neys  and  in  seasons  of  relaxation  from  regular  and  severe 
employment  and  study ;  for  then  the  brain  has  little  to  do  but 
to  attend  to  the  demands  of  the  stomach.  But  at  home,  when 
the  nervous  influence  of  the  brain  is  needed  for  engrossing 
labors  and  studies,  a  more  rigid  conformity  to  rules  and  a 
simpler  diet  are  important.  As  to  drink,  I  still  maintain  that 
whatever  may  be  necessary  in  poor  health  and  in  old  age,  for 
the  young  and  the  middle  aged,  pure  water  is  all  that  is 
necessary,  and  best  adapted  to  health  and  strength. 

To  a  partial  and  imperfect  adoption  of  this  system,  I  am 
indebted  more  than  language  can  express.  Other  systems  of 
hygiene,  such  as  the  vegetarian,  have  indeed  long  since  super 
seded  mine,  and  they  might  have  done  still  better  for  me  than 
mine.  But  I  have  been  so  engrossed  by  professional  cares 
and  scientific  pursuits  that  I  have  given  them  little  attention. 
Moreover,  for  some  years  past  my  complaints  have  assumed  a 
form  so  much  more  serious,  and  have  had  their  seat  so  much 
in  organs  not  intimately  connected  with  the  digestive,  that  the 
question  has  often  been,  not  whether  this  or  that  article  of 
food  and  drink  wras  theoretically  the  best,  but  rather  what 
kinds  my  system  would  bear  at  all,  and  these  I  have  been 
compelled  by  medical  advisers  to  use,  even  though  at  variance 
with  former  hygienic  rules.  But  skin  for  skin,  yea,  all  that  a 
man  hath  will  he  give  for  his  life. 

It  may  be  of  some  service  if  I  record  my  experience  on  a 
particular  feature  of  this  subject,  on  which  I  think  some 
erroneous  views  prevail.  It  is  a  common  opinion  that  if  a 
professional  man  has  much  public  speaking  to  go  through,  or 
protracted  duties  to  perform,  he  should  strengthen  himself  by 
hearty  and  stimulating  food  and  drink.  I  have  found  just  the 
reverse  to  be  true  in  my  case.  If  called  to  preach  or  lecture, 


FANCIED   DANGER.  801 

I  found  that  I  could  go  through  the  service  far  easier,  and  with 
less  fatigue  and  wear  and  tear,  if  I  reduced  the  quantity  of  food 
and  drink.  My  favorite  diet  in  such  cases  has  long  been  a 
bowl  of  hominy  and  milk,  which  with  me  has  a  wonderful 
power  to  give  clearness  and  elasticity  to  the  mind.  My  rule 
has  been  to  leave  the  eating,  except  just  enough  to  prevent 
faintness,  till  the  speaking  is  through. 

During  my  Presidency  I  found  Commencement  week  to 
demand  almost  constant  confinement  in  the  meetings  of  Trus 
tees,  Prudential  Committee  and  Faculty,  and  on  the  closing 
day  a  session  of  five  or  six  hours  in  the  church.  I  used  to  get 
very  nervous,  and  my  head  seemed  as  if  bound  by  a  hoop,  till 
I  learned  to  practice  great  abstemiousness.  By  taking  a  little 
horseback  exercise  in  the  morning,  and  a  bowl  of  arrowroot, 
the  lightest  of  all  kinds  of  food,  for  breakfast,  I  could  go  through 
these  protracted  sessions  without  the  slightest  inconvenience  or 
subsequent  injury.  It  might  not  be  so  with  others,  yet  I  would 
advise  those  of  feeble  constitutions  to  try ;  for  I  think  the  prin 
ciples  of  physiology  promise  them  success,  as  well  as  my 
experience. 

I  would  refer  to  one  other  subject  connected  with  pledged 
abstinence  from  intoxicating  drinks.  J  am  satisfied  that  one 
of  the  main  difficulties  that  stands  in  the  way  of  aspiring  young 
men  in  a  course  of  education,  to  prevent  their  pledging  them 
selves  against  intoxicating  drinks,  is  the  fear  that  it  will  greatly 
embarrass  and  mortify  them  when  they  shall  be  introduced  into 
refined  and  influential  society,  where  such  drinks  arc  freely 
used,  and  not  to  use  them  in  the  social  circle  will  be  thought 
vulgar  and  boorish.  They  do  not  wish  to  subject  themselves 
to  such  mortification,  and  the  danger  of  blasting  their  fairest 
prospects  in  life.  Now  my  experience  goes  to  show  that  this 
is  an  idle  fear,  and  that  a  consistent,  honest  example  of  tem 
perance  raises  a  man  in  the  judgment  of  all  whose  opinion  is 
worth  having.  I  would  refer  to  a  few  examples. 

In  the  numerous  meetings  of  the  American  Association  for 
the  Advancement  of  Science,  and  other  scientific  and  literary 


302  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

bodies,  where  soirees  have  abounded  with  intoxicating  drinks, 
I  am  sure  that  my  refusal  to  partake  has  not  produced  the 
slightest  neglect  or  disrespect,  either  towards  myself  or  those 
of  my  confreres  who  like  me  were  abstinents. 

When  dining  with  Governor  Marcy  of  New  York,  witli  a 
small  party,  he,  knowing  something  of  my  habits,  with  true 
gentlemanly  politeness  said  to  me,  as  the  wine  was  offered, 
"  I  think  you  do  not  use  wine/'  and  thus  relieved  me  at  once 
from  all  embarrassment,  and  introduced  a  pleasant  conversa 
tion  about  total  abstinence,  which  I  could  see  had  on  its  side 
the  consciences  of  all  present. 

These  little  discussions  about  temperance  almost  always 
followed  a  refusal  to  partake  of  the  wine  cup.  I  was  invited 
to  the  dinner  given  in  Richmond,  Virginia,  in  1847,  (happen 
ing  to  be  sojourning  there,)  to  Daniel  Webster,  and  was  placed 
near  Mr.  Webster  and  Rev.  Mr.  Hoge.  the  latter  of  whom, 
like  myself,  used  water  only.  This  was  noticed,  and  drew 
from  Mr.  Webster  an  excellent  lecture  on  temperance.  He 
said  that  when  he  first  went  into  the  practice  of  his  profession 
his  health  was  poor,  and  the  physician  recommended  the 
daily  use  of  wine.  Using  it  at  a  particular  hour  of  the  day, 
he  found  after  a  time  that  if  from  any  cause  he  could  not 
obtain  the  customary  glass,  he  became  uneasy  and  fretful,  and 
it  alarmed  him.  "  And  let  me  tell  you,"  said  Mr.  Webster, 
"that  if  any  man  finds  himself  uncomfortable  because  his 
customary  glass  fails  him  at  a  particular  hour,  he  is  in  danger 
of  intemperance." 

The  most  honorable  and  gentlemanly  treatment  I  CV»T 
received,  in  like  circumstances,  was  from  Chevalier  Bunsen, 
the  distinguished  scholar  and  author.  I  was  dining  with  Mr. 
Pusey,  member  of  Parliament  for  Berkshire,  at  his  residence 
in  London,  in  1850.  The  Chevalier,  who  was  Prussian  Min 
ister  at  the  Court  of  St.  James,  sat  opposite  to  me  at  the 
table,  and  I  expected  what  soon  came,  an  invitation  to  drink 
a  glass  of  wine  with  him,  which  I  believe  means  to  drink  my 
health.  But  I  declined.  "  Oh,"  said  he,  "  you  don't  use  wine, 


INCIDENTS  IN  ENGLAND.  303 

do  you  ?  "  "  No,  sir,"  I  replied.  "  Will  you  then  take  a  glass 
of  water  with  me  ?  "  was  his  rejoinder.  "  With  the  greatest 
pleasure,"  said  I.  "  How  is  my  friend  Dr.  Baird  ?  "  he  added, 
thus  showing  where  his  temperance  knowledge  came  from. 
This  was  genuine  politeness ;  and  yet  why  shoitid  not  the 
teetotaler  be  allowed  in  such  a  case  to  choose  his  beverage, 
to  keep  a  good  conscience,  when  the  wine-drinker  can  change 
his  without  any  qualms  of  conscience  ?  why  should  not  such  a 
concession  be  made,  without  regarding  it  as  any  great  stretch 
of  liberality?  But  as  the  feelings  of  the  higher  classes  of 
society  in  Europe  are,  it  was  certainly  very  generous  in  the 
Chevalier,  and  showed  the  true  nobility  of  his  nature. 

I  met  with  treatment  a  little  different  in  another  assembly 
in  London,  where  I  hardly  expected  it.  It  was  at  a  dinner  or 
collation  given  at  the  last  Commencement  of  Homerton  Col 
lege,  which  had  been  presided  over  by  my  venerable  friend 
Dr.  John  Pye  Smith,  for  fifty  years.  The  leading  clergymen 
and  laymen  of  the  Independent  Church  in  London  and  vicin 
ity  were  present,  and  Dr.  Smith  had  placed  me  on  his  right 
hand  and  given  me  a  very  flattering  introduction.  He  was 
himself  a  well  known  teetotaler,  and  I  felt  quite  strong  under 
his  shadow.  When  the  Queen's  health  was  proposed  I  drank 
it  in  my  glass  of  water ;  I  stated  that  I  had  done  it  with  a 
cordial  respect  for  her  Majesty,  not  only  from  my  knowledge 
of  her  general  character,  but  from  what  I  had  myself  wit 
nessed  only  a  Sabbath  or  two  previously.  Happening  in  the 
Isle  of  Wight,  I  sat  during  the  church  service  within  a  few 
feet  of  the  Queen  and  royal  family,  and  I  noticed  that  when 
ever  she  was  prayed  for  personally,  as  she  was  several  times, 
she  bowed  her  head,  and  I  could  see  her  bonnet  tremble,  as  is 
natural  when  a  person  joins  cordially  in  what  is  said,  and  it 
seemed  to  me  to  indicate  that  she  felt  the  need  of  those 
prayers,  and  united  fervently  in  the  petition.  As  I  mentioned 
these  facts,  I  could  see  tears  in  the  eyes  of  some  of  the  ven 
erable  men  before  me,  so  strong  was  their  love  for  the  Queen. 
But  my  story  was  not  sufficient  to  save  me  from  the  playful 


304  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHEBST   COLLEGE. 

sallies  of  one  of  the  London  ministers  for  my  cold  water  toast. 
As  he  had  been  in  the  United  States  not  long  before,  I  con 
cluded  that  his  conscience  disturbed  him  somewhat,  and  I 
made  no  reply,  contented  that  I  had  been  the  means  of  making 
him  so  uifeasy  as  to  his  drinking  habits  that  he  found  it 
necessary  to  do  something  to  keep  his  moral  sense  quiet. 

In  passing  through  all  the  soirees  and  dinners  encountered 
in  a  week's  meeting  of  the  British  Scientific  Association,  I 
did  not  meet  with  any  thing  at  all  unpleasant  in  the  practice 
of  entire  abstinence,  although  wine  and  even  stronger  drinks 
met  me  everywhere,  and  was  furnished,  and  used  too,  even  at 
breakfast,  as  I  witnessed  at  the  one  of  which  I  partook  at  the 
residence  of  the  Lord  Provost  of  Edinburgh. 

On  the  whole,  I  am  confident,  that  I  have  been  a  decided 
gainer  wherever  I  have  fearlessly  and  openly  practiced  total 
abstinence  when  in  wealthy  and  refined  society.  It  has 
secured  to  me  respect  and  confidence  instead  of  insult  and 
mortification,  and  so  I  think  every  one  will  find  it  who  tries 
the  experiment. 

INVITATION  TO  THE  PRESIDENCY. 

I  have  already  given  a  detail  of  the  financial  embarrassments 
of  the  College,  which  were  the  main  cause  of  its  rapidly 
running  down  from  1836  to  1845.  It  was  clear  that  some 
decisive  measures  must  be  taken  or  it  would  soon  be  too  far 
gone  for  resuscitation.  Dr.  Humphrey  concluded  to  resign, 
and  efforts  followed  to  supply  his  place.  But  the  position  had 
no  temptations.  One  natural  question  would  be,  where  is  the 
money  to  come  from  for  the  support  of  a  President?  Another 
would  be,  what  measures  can  be  adopted  to  stop  the  downward 
progress  of  the  institution,  and  to  give  it  an  upward  tendency? 
If  a  man  as  wise  as  Dr.  Humphrey  could  not  do  it,  who  would 
wish  to  venture  upon  the  experiment  ?  Especially,  who  would 
feel  it  his  duty  to  quit  a  sphere  of  great  usefulness  and  quiet 
for  an  enterprise  so  doubtful  and  perplexing  ?  Yet  it  seemed 
to  require  a  man  who  could  bring  a  distinguished  reputation 


THE  PRESIDENCY.  305 

and  was  popular  with  the  community,  in  order  to  stem  and 
turn  back  the  current.  Hence  the  Trustees  applied  to  such 
men  as  Professor  Park,  of  Andover,  and  Professor  Shepherd, 
of  Bangor.  But  they  had  not  much  hope  of  success,  and  it 
ere  long  began  to  be  suggested  that  some  one  already  connected 
with  the  College  must  take  the  office ;  for  it  would  only  make 
matters  worse  if  the  Presidency  should  go  begging  long.  It 
was  intimated  to  me  that  probably  my  name  would  head  the 
list  of  home  candidates,  I  never  knew  why,  except  that  I  was 
the  oldest  officer  on  the  ground.  For  of  all  offices  this  one 
seemed  to  myself,  honestly,  to  be  the  one  to  which  I  was  the 
least  adapted ;  and  I  dreaded  to  have  the  question  come  before 
me.  Whenever,  therefore,  I  learned  that  the  place  had  been 
offered  to  any  gentleman  abroad,  I  addressed  to  him  as  strong 
an  argument  as  I  could,  urging  his  acceptance.  But  it  availed 
nothing,  and  at  length  the  question  came  before  myself  as  I 
feared. 

The  arguments  against  my  acceptance  seemed  very  weighty. 
In  the  first  place  I  felt  a  strong  aversion  to  the  duties  of  the 
office,  both  on  account  of  their  nature  and  because  they  were 
unadapted  to  my  habits  and  feelings.  My  constitution,  natu 
rally  timid  and  hesitating,  and  rendered  morbidly  so  by  more 
than  thirty  years  of  wretched  health,  was  averse  to  governing 
men  by  strict  military  rules.  If  I  could  not  control  them  by 
moral  influence  I  had  no  disposition  to  force  or  command  them. 
I  might  do  it  as  a  matter  of  duty,  but  my  nature  was  averse 
to  it. 

Secondly.  I  had  no  ambition  to  stand  at  the  head  of  the 
institution.  I  have  far  too  much  ambition  in  my  constitution, 
but  it  never  took  this  direction.  In  my  chosen  department  I 
was  willing  to  rise.  But  this  I  thought  would  be  going  out 
of  my  appropriate  sphere  where  I  could  best  serve  God  and 
my  generation. 

Thirdly.  The  Presidency,  in  the  existing  exigency,  needed 
some  one  who  had  a  superior  talent  for  collecting  money  from 
the  benevolent  and  the  wealthy,  and  I  had  a  strong  conviction 


306  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

that  of  all  men  I  was  most  deficient  in  this  skill.  For  I  had 
often  made  efforts  to  obtain  endowments  and  benefactions,  and 
though  others  succeeded,  I  always  failed,  so  much  so  that  I 
had  lost  all  confidence  in  any  efforts  I  might  make.  And 
though  I  afterward  had  some  success  in  this  matter,  I  fully 
believe  it  was  because  God  went  before  me  and  prepared  the 
way. 

Fourthly.  I  had  never  myself  been  through  a  regular  college 
course,  and  therefore  the  presumption  would  be  that  my  edu 
cation  was  very  defective,  and  that  I  was  not  qualified  to  judge 
in  respect  to  the  studies  and  the  discipline  of  college.  Hence 
my  appointment  must  awaken  a  strong  prejudice  against  the 
College  in  the  literary  community,  instead  of  the  favorable 
impression,  which  seemed  indispensable. 

This  was  indeed  a  formidable  objection.  True  it  might  be 
said  that  I  had  been  over,  after  a  sort,  with  most  of  the  studies 
of  a  college  course,  and  to  some  of  them  had  given  ten  times 
more  attention  than  is  done  in  college ;  also  that  I  had  received 
unsolicited  from  Yale  College  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  at 
the  age  of  twenty-five,  and  of  Doctor  of  Laws  from  Harvard, 
in  1840;  also  that  I  had  been  connected  with  Amherst  College 
twenty  years,  and  could  not  but  have  become  familiar  with  the 
details  of  instruction,  police  and  government.  Nevertheless, 
since  I  have  learnt  more  fully  how  strong  is  the  prejudice 
among  graduates  towards  the  self-taught,  I  think  there  must 
have  been  unusual  liberality  among  the  Trustees  and  officers  of 
Amherst  College,  or  this  last  consideration  would  have  been 
thought  an  insuperable  objection  against  my  election. 

Fifthly.  My  acceptance  of  the  Presidency  must  defeat  the 
leading  literary  plans  of  my  life  and  greatly  abridge  my  means 
of  scientific  research.  In  another  place  I  have  stated  what 
leading  plan  of  my  life  must  be  given  up,  as  in  fact  it  was, 
never  to  be  resumed.  This  has  ever  seemed  to  me  the  great 
est  sacrifice  I  was  called  on  to  make  in  accepting  the  office, 
and  even  now,  I  can  scarcely  think  of  it  but  with  tears. 


COUNTER  ARGUMENTS.  307 

Sixthly.  My  health  was  quite  insufficient  to  assume  such 
onerous  duties.  When  I  commenced  my  labors  at  Amherst, 
it  was  so  poor  that  I  had  no  expectation  of  holding  out 
more  than  three  or  four  years.  Yet  I  had  now  gone  on 
for  twenty  years,  never  failing  to  give  my  full  courses  of 
instruction,  besides  a  great  amount  of  other  labors,  public  and 
private.  But  I  felt,  at  length,  so  certain  that  I  must  have 
some  respite,  that  I  had  made  arrangements  for  a  voyage  to 
Europe.  And,  in  order  to  meet  my  expenses  in  part,  my 
friend  Dr.  John  Pye  Smith,  of  London,  had  proposed  to  pre 
pare  the  way  for  me  to  give  a  course  of  lectures  in  that  city, 
and  they  had  even  been  announced  in  one  or  more  of  the 
newspapers  there,  and  I  had  nearly  got  the  course  ready ;  the 
same  that  were  afterwards  published  under  the  title  of  the 
Religion  of  Geology.  But  if  I  took  the  Presidency,  instead 
of  this  relaxation  and  excursion,  I  must  submit  my  shoulders 
to  an  additional  load  of  labor  at  home.  Certainly  the  substi 
tution  did  not  appear  very  inviting. 

By  what  arguments,  now,  was  this  strong  array  of  objec 
tions  overcome  ?  The  following  considerations  were  the  prin 
cipal  that  determined  my  course : — 

In  the  first  place,  whatever  my  defects,  I  did  know  how  to 
work  hard  and  to  practice  rigid  economy.  I  had  always  been 
obliged  to  give  good  heed  to  the  latter  virtue,  for  it  had  never 
been  an  object  of  pursuit  to  accumulate  money,  and  it  had 
ever  been  a  matter  of  conscience  with  me  not  to  make  heavy 
charges  to  government,  or  corporations,  or  individuals,  for 
services,  so  that  with  a  large  family,  economy  was  always 
necessary  and  did  not  require  any  self-denial,  and  so  many 
things  had  always  conspired  to  keep  me  at  work,  that  unremit 
ting  labor,  as  far  as  my  system  would  bear  it,  had  become 
almost  a  second  nature.  In  the  exigency  through  which  the 
College  was  passing,  both  of  these  habits  would  be  indispensa 
ble  in  its  President. 

In  the  second  place,  the  experience  of  my  early  life  fitted 
me  to  sympathize  strongly  with  that  class  of  young  men  whom 


308  REMINISCENCES  OF  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

the  founders  of  Amherst  College  intended  to  educate,  and  who 
had  hitherto  constituted  the  majority  of  its  inmates,  viz.,  those 
who  were  obliged  to  depend  almost  entirely  upon  their  own 
efforts.  I  had  originated  from  the  same  humble  class  in 
society,  and  been  obliged  to  contend  with  the  same  difficulties 
and  discouragements.  I  could,  therefore,  counsel  and  encour 
age  those  who  were  struggling  along  the  same  rugged  path. 

Thirdly,  having  myself  known  the  disadvantages  of  not 
having  passed  through  a  regular  collegiate  course,  I  could 
urge  others  not  to  fail  if  possible  of  securing  its  benefits. 
And  I  have  found  abundant  opportunity  to  give  such  advice. 
For,  when  the  student  is  pressed  by  poverty  and  by  severe 
studies,  it  is  easy  to  persuade  him  that  he  may  as  well  take 
a  short  cut,  and  let  a  college  diploma  go.  I  think  I  have 
saved  some,  and  I  have  tried  to  save  many,  from  this  literary 
suicide. 

Fourthly,  the  Presidency  would  bring  me  again  into  the 
relation  of  pastor  of  a  church.  The  idea  was  very  pleasant, 
for,  during  twenty  years,  I  had  been  deprived  of  the  peculiar 
sympathies  and  pleasant  duties  of  that  office,  and  I  felt  the 
need  of  them  to  refresh  and  invigorate  my  spiritual  life. 

Fifthly,  I  had  entire  confidence  in  the  character  and  ability 
of  the  Trustees  and  Faculty  then  in  office,  to  devise  and  carry 
through  any  plan  for  arresting  the  downward  tendency  of  the 
institution,  and  bringing  it  into  a  prosperous  condition.  My 
colleagues  were  men  admirably  adapted  by  their  superior 
talents  and  acquirements,  and  by  their  large  experience  to 
be  popular  and  successful  teachers,  while  their  religious  prin 
ciples  and  character  made  it  certain  that  whatever  enterprise 
they  conscientiously  engaged  in,  they  would  hold  on  to  with 
true  Puritan  tenacity.  Of  a  similar  spirit  and  character  were 
the  Trustees  :  men  of  excellent  judgment  and  devoted  piety, 
who  (as  well  as  the  officers  of  instruction)  never  undertook  any 
thing  till  they  had  prayed  much  over  it,  and  never  abandoned 
it  so  long  as  they  had  faith  to  continue  their  prayers.  With 
such  men  I  knew  that  we  should  move  harmoniously  onward, 


IDIOSYNCRASY.  309 

and  that  they  would  make  up  for  my  deficiencies  by  every 
means  in  their  power.  I  felt  sure  that  if  any  men  could  suc 
ceed  in  such  a  work  as  was  before  us,  they  were  the  men. 

Finally,  since  the  interests  of  the  College  were  far  more 
important  than  my  personal  preferences  or  comfort,  or  health, 
or  literary  plans,  I  did  not  feel  at  liberty  to  refuse  to  enter  this 
field  of  labor,  whose  doors  seemed  to  open  so  widely,  and  into 
which  the  finger  of  Providence  seemed  to  point  so  plainly.  I 
could  not  indeed  be  made  to  believe  that  I  should  ever  see  the 
Institution  lifted  out  of  the  slough  where  it  was  floundering, 
but  where  duty  was  plain  the  event  must  be  left  with  God.  I 
therefore  yielded  to  the  request  of  the  Trustees,  and  entered, 
with  a  rather  heavy  heart  but  a  resolute  will,  upon  the  duties 
of  the  Presidency. 

This  last  sentence  leads  me  to  say  a  word  about  certain 
peculiarities  of  my  mental  constitution,  resulting  probably  in  a 
measure  from  my  long  continued  conflict  with  disease.  When 
engaging  in  any  new  course  of  conduct  I  rarely  have  much 
hope  that  I  shall  succeed  in  it,  and  yet  that  feeble  hope  does 
not  seem  to  weaken  at  all  my  efforts  to  succeed.  After  having 
deliberately  and  prayerfully  undertaken  any  enterprise,  I  per 
severe  in  it  long  after  men  of  sanguine  temperament  have 
given  it  up.  So  that  it  often  happens  that  I  who  am  least 
hopeful  of  all  at  the  beginning,  am  ready  to  lead  a  forlorn 
hope  when  the  forward  and  ardent  have  thrown  down  their 
weapons.  I  leave  to  others  to  explain  if  they  can  this  anomaly 
or  contrariety  in  my  constitution  ;  but  the  fact  is  important  to 
illustrate  some  portions  of  my  history. 

I  ought  also  to  state  a  few  facts  which  formed  a  part  of  my 
education,  and  which  served  to  diminish  the  evils  of  a  self- 
taught  course.  I  have  already  referred  to  the  benefits  which 
I  derived  from  being  for  many  years  a  leading  member  of  a 
debating  society.  I  there  had  an  opportunity  to  practice 
extempore  speaking  and  composition,  and  to  acquire  facility  in 
philosophical  reasoning  probably  to  a  ten  times  greater  extent 
than  does  a  student  in  college.  It  was  also  an  admirable  dis- 


310  REMINISCENCES   OF  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

cipline  I  was  compelled  to  go  through  when  called  to  instruct 
in  the  academy  in  Deerfield.  As  there  were  always  in  the 
school  a  number  who  were  fitting  for  college,  I  found  a 
thorough  review  of  a  large  part  of  my  classical  studies  indis 
pensable — not  once  merely,  but  over  and  over  again,  so  that 
the  details  have  remained  in  my  mind  even  to  the  present 
time,  and  the  same  is  true  of  the  many  other  studies  one  is 
called  to  teach  in  an  academy.  It  was  a  much  more  severe 
discipline  than  if  I  had  been  through  college  drilling,  and  I 
would  advise  no  young  man  to  venture  upon  it  unless  driven 
to  it,  as  I  was,  by  dire  necessity. 

The  academy  owned  a  very  good  philosophical  apparatus, 
and  I  prepared  a  number  of  lectures  on  natural  philosophy, 
which  were  delivered  with  experiments  before  the  school,  and 
iii  the  evening  before  the  citizens  of  the  village.  This  was  my 
first  attempt  at  lecturing. 

But  my  best  mental  discipline  was  connected  with  the  use 
of  the  astronomical  instruments  of  the  academy.  In  another 
place  I  have  described  the  observations  which  I  made  on  the 
comet  of  1811,  as  well  as  other  heavenly  bodies.  The  subse 
quent  winter  was  in  a  good  measure  devoted  to  a  reduction  of 
those  observations,  and  as  I  had  access  to  only  a  few  books,  I 
was  obliged  to  calculate  by  spherical  trigonometry  many 
elements  which  at  this  day  are  found  in  the  tables  of  practical 
astronomy.  The  mere  effort  to  form  an  accurate  idea  of  the 
numerous  spherical  triangles  I  had  to  construct  out  of  the 
imaginary  circles  of  the  celestial  sphere,  was  an  admirable 
discipline,  and  their  accurate  solution  not  less  so. 

To  give  some  idea  of  the  extent  of  my  observations  and  researches, 
I  will  add  the  results  as  to  the  longitude,  which  was  only  one  of 
many  subjects  to  which  I  directed  my  attention.  These  results  are, 
indeed,  more  discrepant  than  practiced  observers  obtain  in  fixed 
observatories.  But  I  was  only  eighteen  years  old  when  a  part  of  the 
observations  were  made,  and  had  served  no  apprenticeship,  and  had 
only  a  sextant  and  theodolite.  Yet  the  mean  of  all  the  results  does 
hot  differ  as  much  as  two  miles  from  the  longitude  as  obtained  in 
the  accurate  trigonometrical  survey  of  Massachusetts. 


ASTRONOMICAL   OBSERVATIONS.  311 

FOR  THE  LONGITUDE  OF  DEERFIELD  CHURCH. 

h.  m.  sec. 

By  Solar  Eclipse,  Sept.  17th,  1811,  the  beginning,         .  4  49  53 

End  of  ditto, 4  50  38 

Distance  of  Moon  and  Aldebaran,  Oct.  29th,  1811,        .  4  49  45 

Distance  of  Sun  and  Moon,  Oct.  12th,  1811,          .         .  4  52  0 

Distance  of  Moon  and  Aldebaran,  Oct.  28th,  1811,        .  4  48  53 

By  emersion  of  Jupiter's  first  Satellite,  May  2d,  1813,  .  4  49  52 

By  distance  of  Sun  and  Moon,  Dec.  19th,  1817,    .         .  4  52  10 

By  distance  of  Moon  and  Aldebaran,  Dec.  17th,  1817,    .  4  52  50 

By  distance  of  Moon  and  Pollux,  Dec.  19th,  1817,         .  4  50  36 

By  distance  of  Moon  and  a  Arietis,  Dec.  23d,  1817,      .  4  52  15 

By  distance  .of  Moon  and  Regulus,  Dec.  23d,  1817,        .  4  52  10 

By  distance  of  Moon  and  Aldebaran,  Dec.  26th,  1817,  4  49  34 

By  Sun  and  Moon,  Dec.  31st,  1817,       .        . '       .         .  4  49  9 

By  Sun  and  Moon,  Jan.  1st,  1818,          ,        .        »        .  4  50  3 

By  Sun  and  Moon,  Jan.  2d,  1818,  .        „        s      ...        .  4  50  8 

By  Lunar  Eclipse,  Jan.  15th,  1805,  (By  Gen.  E.  Hoyt,)  4  49  33 

Mean,  .        %        «        «.  <    .  .      *        *        *        .    4    50    36 

This  equals  72  deg.,  39  min.,  en  arc.  By  the  Trigonometrical 
Survey,  the  longitude  is  72  deg.,  36  min.,  40  sec. 

I  might  give  similar  results  as  to  latitude,  and  the  declination  of 
the  needle,  and  especially  the  latitude  and  longitude  of  the  comet. 
But  the  above  is  sufficient  to  make  not  inappropriate,  a  quotation 
from  the  poet  Cumberland,  which  I  find  on  the  cover  of  my  manu 
script  of  calculations  : — 

"These  are  the  studies;   'tis  by  these  the  mind 
Of  early  youth  is  exercised  and  taught, 
That  discipline  which  forms  the  reasoning  man." 

But  a  still  more  severe  and  improving  discipline  grew  out 
of  these  astronomical  researches.  In  making  my  calculations, 
I  had  made  much  use  of  the  Nautical  Almanac,  then  repub- 
lished  by  Edmund  M.  Blunt,  of  New  York.  In  a  work  of 
so  high  and  settled  a  character,  I  should  not  have  thought 
of  any  errors  as  scarcely  possible,  had  not  Mr.  Blunt  placed 
beneath  the  opening  page  of  every  month,  the  sentence,  "  ten 
dollars  will  be  paid  on  the  discovery  of  an  error  in  the 
figures."  This  led  me  to  an  examination,  and  I  soon  found 


312  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

that  I  would  accumulate  money  rapidly  if  the  offer  was 
fulfilled.  I  discovered  a  long  list  of  errors,  both  in  the 
figures  and  the  words,  and  I  sent  it  to  Mr.  Blunt,  but  got 
only  evasive  and  unsatisfactory  replies.  I  then  sent  the  list 
to  the  American  Monthly  Magazine,  published  in  New  York. 
This  excited  Mr.  Blunt's  indignation,  and  he  published  a 
reply,  beginning  thus :  "  Noticing  an  attack  on  my  Nautical 
Almanacs,  from  one  Edward  Hitchcock,  a  few  remarks  only 
are  necessary  to  explain  the  man's  drift."  He  endeavored  to 
evade  the  force  of  my  communication  by  representing  the 
errors  there  pointed  out  as  in  a  part  of  the  work  used  chiefly 
by  astronomers,  and  added,  "  I  would  rather  ten  errors  would 
escape  me  there,  than  one  by  which  the  mariner  should  be 
deceived."  And  then  he  charges  me  with  "  shameful  neglect," 
in  not  examining  that  part  of  the  Almanac  in  which  seamen 
were  chiefly  concerned.  It  so  happened  that  before  I  saw 
his  article,  I  had  forwarded  to  the  Magazine  a  second  list 
of  errors  in  the  lunar  distances,  in  which  seamen  have  a 
vital  interest.  They  were  twenty  in  number,  and  of  such 
magnitude  as  would  be  fatal  to  the  seamen,  if  not  discovered. 
This  was  the  only  reply  that  appeared  to  Blunt's  scurrilous 
attack  upon  me.  I  continued  my  researches,  however,  and 
six  months  later,  I  sent  another  list  of  thirty-five  errors  in 
the  same  almanacs,  viz.,  those  for  1815,  1816,  1817  and 
1818.  The  effect  of  my  efforts  had  led  Mr.  Blunt  to  employ 
a  gentleman  to  recalculate  the  almanac  for  1819.  In  his 
preface,  he  says :  "  It  will  afford  much  satisfaction  and  promote 
commercial  advantages,  if  on  discovery  of  an  error  in  any 
nautical  work,  publicity  should  immediately  be  made."  And 
yet  he  made  no  allusion  to  what  I  had  done,  although  it 
had  been  the  means  of  the  whole  movement,  and  for  ought 
I  know,  of  the  subsequent  restoration  of  the  English  editions 
to  their  original  accuracy.  He  sent  me,  however,  a  copy  of 
his  recalculated  edition  of  1819,  which  was,  of  course,  a  chal 
lenge  to  me  to  find  errors  in  that  if  I  could.  I  wrent  to  work 
and  soon  made  out  a  list  of  thirty-five,  which,  added  to  the 


NAUTICAL  ALMANAC.  313 

thirty-five  found  in  the  four  previous  years,  made  seventy  in 
my  last  communication.  This  was  rather  too  heavy  a  shot 
for  Mr.  Blunt  to  stand  under,  and,  two  months  later,  he  sent  a 
communication  to  the  Magazine,  which  begins  by  saying: 
"The  communication  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Hitchcock,  rela 
tive  to  errors  in  my  edition  of  the  Nautical  Almanac, 
deserves  notice,  and  he  is  entitled  to  much  credit  for  his 
perseverance."  He  then  says  that  the  thirty-five  errors 
which  I  had  pointed  out  in  his  edition  of  1819,  he  "had 
corrected  with  the  pen,  and  begged  me  to  accept  his  thanks, 
whatever  may  have  been  my  motive."  This  was  quite  a 
change  of  style  from  his  "  one  Edward  Hitchcock  "  communi 
cation.  But  how  mean,  thus  to  impugn  my  motives,  instead 
of  making  me  a  present,  although  I  had  pointed  out  more 
than  eighty  "  errors  in  the  figures,"  for  which,  had  I  appealed 
to  the  law,  I  could  have  compelled  him  to  pay  me  ten  dollars 
each,  and  were  I  to  pass  through  a  similar  experience  now, 
I  think  I  should  seek  legal  redress,  although  in  all  my  life 
I  have  never  engaged  in  a  law  suit.  But  I  had  worked 
hard  enough  in  discovering  these  errors  to  deserve  the  reward 
which  was  fully  offered,  and  at  that  time,  almost  entirely 
destitute  as  I  was  of  pecuniary  means,  it  was  surely  honor 
able  in  me  to  seek  to  secure  the  offer. 

But  I  had  my  reward.  It  was  highly  gratifying  thus  to 
have  been  the  means  of  bringing  back  the  Nautical  Almanac 
to  its  former  correctness,  and  thus  of  saving  the  lives,  it  might 
be,  of  many  mariners.  But  the  mental  discipline  required  was 
the  richest  personal  reward.  I  was  a  young  man,  almost 
unknown  beyond  the  narrow  circle  in  which  I  moved,  whose 
prospects  for  life  had  been  sadly  blasted,  and  I  had  no  influ 
ential  friend  to  take  up  my  cause.  I  had  to  venture  alone  into 
this  conflict.  My  adversary  thought  he  could  strike  me  dead 
at  a  blow.  In  such  circumstances  a  single  mistake  on  my 
part  would  have  been  fatal  to  my  reputation.  This  rendered 
the  most  rigid  accuracy  indispensable.  They  did  not  catch 
me  tripping  in  any  case.  The  lesson  I  thus  learnt  was  of 
H 


314  REMINISCENCES   OP  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

immense  importance.  Very  rarely  is  the  same  lesson  taught 
in  college  with  motives  half  as  powerful.  But  it  is  one  of  the 
most  valuable  of  all  experiences  in  early  education,  and  without 
it  a  literary  man  will  go  stumbling  through  life. 

The  numerous  astronomical  calculations  which  I  was  obliged 
to  go  through  some  years  before  this  controversy  about  the 
Nautical  Almanac  undoubtedly  contributed  much  to  prepare 
me  for  it.  I  ought  also  to  say  that  I  calculated  and  published 
the  Country  Almanac  from  1814  to  1818,  inclusive.  And 
here  also  accuracy  (except  in  the  predictions  of  the  weather) 
was  essential  to  success.  But  no  complaint  of  errors  was  ever 
made  except  in  one  instance.  In  stating  the  feast  and  fast 
days  of  the  Episcopal  Church  I  put  down  Easter  one  year  at  a 
different  time  from  what  the  ordinary  rules  would  give,  and 
both  clergymen  and  people  pronounced  me  wrong  and  my 
almanac  of  course  useless.  I  defended  myself  in  the  papers, 
stating  that  the  ordinary  rules  for  determining  Easter  were 
that  year  useless,  it  being  a  peculiar  case  that  happened  only 
once  in  some  hundreds  of  years.  The  Episcopalians  did  not 
probably  believe  me;  but  soon  after  their  bishop  issued  a 
circular  which  sustained  my  view,  and  that  settled  the  matter, 
and  made  my  almanac  popular. 

Thus  much  for  my  early  scientific  training.  I  have  men 
tioned  also  the  important  aid  I  experienced  from  repeatedly 
going  over  some  of  the  Latin  and  Greek  classics  in  teaching. 
I  may  be  allowed  also  to  mention  a  practice  which  I  adopted, 
which  I  have  found  of  important  service,  but  which  I  have 
rarely  known  employed  in  college.  I  used,  when  studying  the 
classics,  to  keep  a  note-book  for  putting  down  the  most  striking 
sentiments  of  the  author,  such  as  would  answer  for  mottoes 
and  to  introduce  in  essays  and  speeches  with  effect.  To  obtain 
the  choices^ — for  I  did  not  wish  the  number  to  be  very  large — 
I  was  led  to  study  all  the  notes  where  quotations  are  often 
made  from  rare  authors.  These  notes  I  used  often  to  look 
over,  and  thus  made  them  familiar  and  fixed  them  on  the 
memory,  and  I  have  found  them  of  great  value  and  no  mean 


PRESIDENTIAL  LABORS.  315 

substitute  for  that  more  extended  training  which  is  given  in  a 
college  course. 

AMOUNT  OF  LABORS  AS  PRESIDENT. 

I  have  given  an  account  of  the  labors  expected  from  me  as 
Professor.  It  may  not  be  amiss  to  enumerate  those  which 
met  me  in  the  Presidency. 

In  the  first  term  I  gave  three  lectures  per  week  on  Nat 
ural  Theology,  to  the  Junior  Class,  and  heard  about  the  same 
number  of  recitations  on  Chemistry,  although  the  latter  service 
was  not  permanently  connected  with  the  Presidency. 

In  the  second  term  I  had  four  or  five  recitations  per  week 
in  Butler's  Analogy,  in  the  Senior  Class. 

In  the  third  term  five  lectures  or  recitations  on  Geology. 

This  is  as  small  an  amount  of  literary  instruction  as  any 
President  should  desire,  and  without  which  he  will  be  apt  to 
fail  of  securing  much  popularity  in  college.  It  is  the  pleasant 
part  of  Presidential  duties. 

The  Professors  who  were  licensed  preachers  kindly  con 
sented  to  take  their  turns  in  preaching  on  the  Sabbath  as  well 
as  on  Thursday  evening,  so  that  my  turn  did  not  come  gener 
ally  oftener  than  a  quarter  part  of  the  time ;  though  some 
years,  especially  on  the  Sabbath,  it  amounted  to  a  third.  As 
pastor  of  the  church,  however,  I  usually  held  an  additional 
weekly  conference,  and  in  times  of  revival,  meetings  for 
prayer  and  preaching  were  often  greatly  multiplied,  so  that 
some  years  as  much  as  half  my  time  was  given  to  ministerial 
labors.  I  attended  and  conducted  prayers  each  morning  in  the 
Chapel. 

In  a  College  so  straitened  as  was  ours  in  its  funds,  pecuniary 
matters  form*  no  small  part  of  a  President's  duties.  All  bills 
against  the  College  must  be  brought  by  him  before  the  Pru 
dential  Committee,  and  when  I  was  President  they  were  first 
brought  before  the  Faculty.  Another  important  duty  required 
the  President  to  decide  upon  the  religious  qualifications  of 
from  forty  to  ninety  applicants  for  aid  from  the  Charity  Fund. 


316  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHEBST   COLLEGE. 

Still  more  onerous  is  the  duty  of  examining  from  thirty  to 
sixty  candidates  for  aid  from  the  Education  Societies,  chiefly 
the  American.  For  it  is  necessary  every  quarter  to  receive 
and  disburse  the  appropriations  made  to  the  beneficiaries,  and 
to  make  a  return  as  often  to  the  Society. 

There  are  three  bodies  of  men  officially  connected  with 
College,  at  whose  meetings  the  President  is  expected  to 
preside,  and  for  which  his  duty  is  to  prepare  business.  The 
first  is  the  Trustees,  whose  meetings,  in  ordinary  times,  are 
only  once  a  year.  The  second  is  the  Prudential  Committee, 
who  look  after  pecuniary  affairs,  and  almost  any  thing,  in 
fact,  needed  to  be  done  in  the  absence  of  the  Trustees. 
These  hold  their  meetings  regularly  as  often  as  once  a  month, 
and  frequently  much  oftener.  The  third  is  the  Faculty,  who 
hold  a  weekly  meeting  for  attending  to  the  discipline  and 
government  of  the  College,  considering  petitions,  and  seeing 
to  it  that  every  thing  is  in  place  and  in  order.  Here  every 
thing  that  makes  friction  or  is  out  of  gear,  among  officers  or 
students,  is  developed,  and  though  men  who  have  a  knack 
of  throwing  off  personal  responsibility  and  shirking  their 
duties  can  go  through  such  meetings  lightly,  and  even 
jocosely,  they  often  weigh  heavily  upon  the  President,  who 
is  personally  responsible  for  the  proper  adjustment  and 
management  of  the  whole  machine.  Consequently  these 
Faculty  meetings,  held,  as  they  usually  are,  in  the  evening, 
and  sometimes  protracted  to  a  late  hour,  are  among  the 
most  trying  of  a  President's  duties.  They  often  wore  very 
much  upon  me,  especially  when  followed,  as  they  sometimes 
were,  by  the  admonition,  dismissal,  or  expulsion  of  delin 
quents.  In  almost  every  such  case,  the  public  sentiment 
and  sympathy  in  College  would  be  with  the  offender,  how 
ever  gross  his  crimes.  The  same  would  generally  be  the 
case  with  friends  at  home  and  with  the  community  at  Inn:*'. 
A  college  Faculty  are  looked  upon  by  many  as  an  aristo 
cratic,  arbitrary  and  tyrannical  set,  whom  every  humane  man 
is  bound  to  oppose,  and  multitudes  who  never  saw  even  the 


EPISTOLARY   CORRESPONDENCE.  317 

outside  of  a  college,  feel  fully  competent  to  sit  in  judgment 
upon  their  acts  and  to  denounce  them.  It  is  this  outside 
sympathy  with  those  who  are  under  discipline  that  does  more 
than  any  thing  else  to  sustain  them  in  their  misdeeds  and  to 
encourage  the  rebellions  that  are  the  frequent  consequence  of 
college  discipline,  and  it  is  the  necessity  of  thus  going  against 
the  popular  will,  and  of  encountering  reactions  as  the  conse 
quence  that  may  rend  the  college  in  pieces,  that  is  more  trying 
to  a  President  than  all  his  literary  labors.  Even  in  a  Chris 
tian  college,  where  is  often  a  sprinkling  of  some  of  the  most 
difficult  elements  to  control,  he  is  not  unfrequently  made  to 
feel  that  he  sits  upon  a  volcano,  which,  though  now  quiet,  may 
at  any  moment  become  active. 

My  epistolary  correspondence  in  the  Presidency  was 
peculiarly  onerous.  I  had  previously  been  so  much  of  a  jack 
at  all  trades  that  I  had  laid  myself  open  to  inquiries  and 
assaults  from  all  classes.  The  same  mail  (and  I  hardly  exag 
gerate  the  literal  fact,)  might  bring  inquiries  about  some  point 
in  the  theory  of  temperance — how  to  employ  garnet  in  making 
sand-paper — how  to  reconcile  the  imputation  of  Adam's  sin 
with  our  sense  of  justice — where  to  find  the  best  beds  of 
sulphate  of  baryta — whether  I  would  like  to  exchange  or  buy 
shells,  minerals  and  fossils — how  cheaply  an  indigent  young 
man  can  go  through  the  college  and  with  what  helps — whether  I 
know  of  any  one  who  will  make  a  good  teacher  of  a  common 
school,  an  academy,  or  a  professor  in  a  college — or  any  one  to 
supply  a  pulpit — what  I  think  of  a  new  theory  of  drift,  or  of 
latent  heat — or  new  views  of  the  relations  of  geology  to 
Moses — or  a  new  poem — or  a  new  work — all  of  which  are  sent 
and  an  answer  requested,  if  possible,  by  return  mail.  During 
my  Presidency,  I  calculated  that  I  was  obliged  to  answer  as 
many  as  four  hundred  or  five  hundred  letters,  annually,  and 
to  these  should  be  added  at  least  one  hundred  recommenda 
tions  to  students  going  out  to  teach  school,  and  for  other 
purposes,  and  to  graduates. 


318  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHEBST  COLLEGE. 

Besides  the  above  items  a  multitude  of  miscellaneous  matters 
relating  to  the  general  affairs  of  College  and  its  government 
and  discipline,  devolve  upon  the  President,  from  which  there 
is  no  escape,  and  though  unknown  to  the  world,  they  are 
among  the  most  trying  of  his  duties. 

PERPLEXING  SUBJECTS  IN  THE  MANAGEMENT  OF  A  NEW 
ENGLAND  COLLEGE. 

I  shall  refer  only  to  a  few  of  the  most  prominent  of  these, 
such  as  the  Faculty  and  Trustees  used  to'spend  much  time  in 
settling,  but  which,  to  use  a  homely  phrase,  "wouldn't  stay 
settled." 

It  would  meet  the  approbation  of  nearly  all  college  officers 
to  say  that  the  government  of  students  should  be  paternal,  and 
it  has  been  a  favorite  maxim  with  some  that  they  stand  in 
loco  parentis.  There  is  much  truth  in  this  view,  but  the 
parallel  between  the  two  forms  of  government  fails  in  some 
points.  "While  the  general  form  of  college  government  is 
parental,  in  many  respects  it  must  be  military.  In  many  cases 
there  is  a  want  of  that  reverence  and  affection  of  pupils  towards 
their  teachers  which  is  felt  even  by  the  wayward  child  towards 
his  parents.  Hence  it  is  necessary,  on  this  and  other  accounts, 
to  have  rules  more  rigid,  and  enforced  more  by  mere  authority 
than  in  the  family.  In  case  of  combined  resistance  to  the 
laws,  it  is  necessary  to  make  the  military  element  stand  out 
very  prominently.  So  that,  in  fact,  college  government  is 
neither  strictly  parental  nor  entirely  military,  but  a  mixture 
of  both,  so  as  to  be  sui  generis.  Precisely  how  much  of  cadi 
element  to  introduce  in  different  cases  is  the  occasion  of  prnt 
difficulty,  and  often  of  discordant  views,  and  it  is  one  of  those 
points  which,  varying  with  the  different  dispositions  and  views 
of  teachers,  can  never  be  settled. 

As  to  the  matter  of  government,  I  felt  exceedingly  my 
incompetence  when  I  took  the  Presidency.  On  one  point, 
however,  I  adopted  views  in  advance  of  those  generally  acted 
on  in  the  colleges.  In  my  Inaugural  Address  I  said :  "  Every 


GOVERNMENT  OP  COLLEGE.  319 

young  gentleman  who  comes  here,  with  scarcely  an  exception, 
knows  very  well  how  he  ought  to  conduct,  and  how  he  must 
conduct,  in  order  to  go  successfully  through  his  four  years 
course.  And  I  would  say  to  him,  *  Here  are  our  rules  which 
we  have  found  necessary ;  and  if  you  join  us  we  shall  place 
entire  confidence  in  your  disposition  and  determination  to 
observe  them.  We  throw  you  on  your  own  responsibility,  as 
a  young  gentleman  who  knows  how  to  conduct  and  can  be 
trusted.  We  shall  not  exercise  over  you  any  vile  system  of 
espionage,  or  suspect  you  of  any  secret  and  dishonorable 
course,  until  forced  to  it  by  the  strongest  evidence.'  Now,  in 
the  hearts  of  most  young  men,  before  they  have  become 
corrupt,  there  is  too  much  of  true  nobility  to  abuse  such  confi 
dence,  and  meanly  to  violate  the  rules  which  they  know  to  be 
good,  and  which  they  have  promised  to  observe.  Let  them  be 
trusted,  therefore,  and  let  not  unreasonable  suspicion  destroy 
their  self-respect  and  sense  of  honor.  But  if  you  are  compelled 
at  length  to  give  up  your  confidence  in  the  integrity  of  an 
individual — and  a  practiced  instructor  sees  this  very  early — 
let  him  be  privately  told  that  since  he  cannot  conform  to  the 
rules  of  the  institution,  and  is  receiving  no  benefit  from  it,  and 
the  influence  of  his  example  is  bad,  he  had  better  leave  it 
before  it  is  necessary  to  make  his  case  public,  and  while  he 
can  do  it  without  disgrace." 

These  principles  were  extensively  acted  upon  during  my 
administration,  and  we  thought  with  no  small  degree  of  success. 
Individual  officers  carried  them  so  far  in  some  instances  that 
when  they  happened  to  become  acquainted  with  very  serious 
misdemeanors  by  a  student,  they  would  say  to  him,  "  Now  if  I 
make  these  facts  known  to  the  Faculty  they  will  be  compelled 
to  dismiss  or  expel  you.  But  if  you  choose  to  make  a  serious 
effort  to  reform,  I  will  lock  this  information  in  my  own  bosom 
until  you  offend  again,  and  if  you  permanently  reform,  it  shall 
never  go  from  me."  I  am  happy  to  say  that  in  many  cases 
this  course  was  eminently  successful,  and  saved  some  men  to 


320  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

society  who  have  become  highly  useful,  but  who  never  could 
have  survived  the  disclosure  of  their  misdeeds. 

And  here  I  confess  that  I  adopted  a  principle  on 
this  subject  in  my  treatment  of  young  men  which  I  some 
times  almost  believe  to  be  theoretically  true,  viz.:  that 
often,  quoad  hoc,  they  are  deranged,  and  therefore 
when  grossly  insulted  personally,  I  did  not  feel  it  necessary  to 
notice  it.  I  mean,  that  in  college  they  come  under  the  influ 
ence  of  views,  feelings,  and  prejudices,  so  different  from  those 
of  men  in  common  life,  that  charity  should  lead  us  to  regard 
them  as  we  would  jnen  under  strong  hallucination,  if  not 
partial  insanity,  assured  that  after  they  have  left  college  they 
will  see  the  fallacy  of  many  of  the  sentiments  and  prejudices 
that  lead  them  while  in  college  to  abuse  one  another,  oppose 
the  Faculty,  justify  convivial  excesses,  and  sympathize  strongly 
with  those  disciplined  for  gross  immoralities,  so  as  even  to 
organize  rebellion  against  lawful  authority.  I  had  found  that 
if  we  could,  by  bearing  or  forbearing,  get  such  men  through 
college  and  away  from  the  influence  of  false  notions,  they 
would  generally  rally  and  become  respectable.  Hence,  I 
made  every  effort  to  get  them  over  this  Rubicon,  and  never 
suffered  the  grossest  personal  insults,  if  unknown  to  the 
world,  to  prevent  my  laboring  in  behalf  of  one  whom  I  looked 
upon  as  infatuated. 

But  I  will  not  enlarge  on  the  subject  of  college  discipline, 
although  memory  suggests  a  great  multitude  of  its  facts  and 


SECRET  AND  ANTI-SECRET  SOCIETIES. 
These,  at  different  periods,  have  been  fruitful  sources  of 
excitement,  jealousy,  and  heart-burning  among  the  students 
and  towards  the  Faculty.  The  secret  societies  would  of  coursi- 
have  little  prestige  were  they  not  strongly  exclusive,  so  as  in 
fact  to  leave  out  a  majority  of  the  students,  nor  unless  those 
selected  embraced  the  elite  as  to  scholarship.  But  the 
majority  thus  passed  by,  or  rather  as  they  would  regard  it, 


SOCIETIES.  321 

made  the  mud-sills  on  which  the  secret  societies  rested, 
would  not  be  very  well  contented  in  such  a  position,  and  the 
same  Faculty  that  had  granted  permission  for  the  formation  of 
the  secret  societies  could  not  refuse  the  application  for  one  of 
a  contrary  character.  But  this  subjected  them  to  the  jealousy 
of  the  secret  societies.  There  would  be  a  desperate  struggle 
among  the  students  to  obtain  the  leading  men  in  the  classes  for 
the  different  societies,  and  they  would  ere  long  come  to  regard 
this  matter  as  one  of  the  most  important  interests  in  college, 
and  they  would  of  course  suppose  the  Faculty  took  as  deep 
an  interest  in  it  as  they  did.  Hence,  they  would  imagine  that 
the  different  officers  were  prejudiced  in  behalf  of  or  against 
this  and  that  society,  and  suffered  their  prejudices  to  affect  the 
marks  they  gave  for  rank,  especially  as  not  unfrequently  some 
of  the  officers  had  been  while  undergraduates  and  were  still 
members  of  some  of  the  societies ;  so  that  if  in  an  exhibition 
or  at  Commencement  a  particular  society  had  failed  of  securing 
many  high  appointments,  here  was  the  cause.  Quite  as  strong, 
too,  were  the  suspicions  of  injustice  when  the  anti-secret 
society  were  deficient  in  like  manner.  Occasionally,  these 
suspicions  would  break  forth  into,  open  complaints,  in  the 
form  of  petitions  or  remonstrances.  Whereas  many  of  us 
did  not  know,  and  took  care  not  to  know,  to  what  secret  or 
anti-secret  society  one  student  in  a  hundred  belonged.  But 
lynx-eyed  jealousy  made  us  all  active  partisans,  and  we  were 
obliged  to  fight  to  avoid  fighting. 

This  system  of  secret  societies  was  not  confined  to  one 
college  in  the  country,  but  extended  to  nearly  all ;  so  that 
if  driven  away  from  one,  its  members  would  find  friends  with 
open  arms  at  other  institutions  ready  to  receive  them  with  the 
honors  of  martyrdom.  The  colleges  for  a  time,  however, 
were  so  annoyed,  that  they  were  led  seriously  to  inquire 
whether  the  evil  ought  not  to  be  attacked  either  singly  or 
unitedly.  Wishing  to  learn  the  views  of  the  different  Northern 
Colleges,  I  addressed  some  inquiries  to  most  of  them,  and 
got  replies  from  their  Presidents.  The  evil  seems  for  several 
H* 


322  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

years  past  to  have  in  a  good  measure  subsided ;  at  least,  I 
have  heard  but  little  of  it.  But  I  feel  as  if  the  testimony  of 
so  many  eminent  and  judicious  men  ought  to  be  put  upon  record ; 
for,  though  like  the  waves  of  temperature  which  rise  and  fall, 
the  society  wave  be  now  at  its  ebb,  it  may  swell  again  to  a 
dangerous  height.  I  make,  therefore,  a  few  extracts  from  the 
letters  which  I  then  received,  suppressing  names,  because  I 
have  not  obtained  liberty  to  give  them. 

"  There  was  a  time,"  says  one  President,  "  when  I  thought  the 
literary  influence  of  these  societies  favorable,  because  they  appeared 
to  awaken  emulation  in  study,  and  thus  in  a  considerable  degree  to 
elevate  the  standard  of  attainment  in  our  classes.  More  recently 
however,  and  especially  since  their  number  has  been  so  greatly  multi 
plied,  this  influence  has  been  less  observable.  I  fear,  indeed,  that  their 
influence  on  the  standard  of  scholarship  has  in  many  cases  proved 
depressing.  As  it  respects  their  moral  and  religious  influence,  I  enter 
tain  some  doubt.  There  have  been  times  when  they  have  appeared  to 
furnish  avenues  through  which  religious  influences  have  more  effect 
ually  reached  the  minds  of  our  young  men  than  could  have  been  ex 
pected  under  other  circumstances.  In  general,  however,  I  fear  the 
opposite  of  this  is  true." 

"  Could  these  associations  be  altogether  removed  from  the  institu 
tions  of  learning  in  our  country,  I  should  think  it  a  result  in  which 
friends  of  learning,  and  especially  the  officers  of  colleges,  would  have 
great  occasion  to  rejoice.  My  conviction  is  that  no  such  attempt 
would  be  successful  '  unless  all  the  institutions,  where  branches  of  such 
societies  exist,  were  united  in.  the  measure.'  Might  not  even  the  most 
systematic  efforts  directed  to  such  an  end,  only  result  in  making  them 

MOKE  SECRET." 

Says  another  President :  "  As  soon  as  the  Faculty  ascertained  that 
such  societies  were  in  existence,  they  ordered  the  students  to  break  off 
their  connection  with  them,  stating  explicitly  that  they  could  not  and 
would  not  be  permitted.  The  parents  and  guardians  of  the  young  men 
were  also  informed  by  circular,  that  such  societies  were  prohibited." 

"  We  have  no  Phi  Beta  Kappa,  and  we  are  not  desirous  to  have  one. 
We  have  understood  that  the  Alpha  Delta,  etc.,  have  had  a  bad  effect 
in.  other  colleges,  and  I  think  the  cooperation  of  all  our  colleges  would 
be  desirable  in  opposing  all  secret  societies,  not  fully  authorized  by 
the  Trustees  and  Faculties." 


OPINIONS   OP  PRESIDENTS.  323 

A  third  head  of  a  college  writes  as  follows  : — 

«« It  is  strongly  contended  by  the  friends  of  these  societies  that  their 
literary  influence  is  good,  and  in  some  respects  it  may  be  so  ;  but  we 
regard  their  influence  as  unfavorable  upon  the  prescribed  course  of 
study.  In  some  few  instances,  which  have  come  to  our  knowledge,  a 
restraining  moral  influence  has  been  exerted  over  young  men  inclined 
to  dissipation  by  their  more  serious  or  religious  associates  in  these 
societies,  but  we  fear  that  the  effect  is  oftener  to  lower  the  tone  of 
religious  character  in  the  pious  young  men  belonging  to  them.  Their 
general  effect  is  to  sow  dissensions  and  produce  factions  in  a  degree  in 
which  they  were  never  known  to  exist  here  before,  and  so  as  to  render 
the  elections  of  the  several  societies  scenes  of  most  unhappy  division." 

"We  are  unanimously  and  decidedly  of  opinion  that  it  would  be 
desirable  to  have  all  these  secret  societies  rooted  out  of  our  colleges, 
and  have  made  up  our  minds  to  request  the  Board,  at  their  next  meet 
ing,  to  pass  laws  forbidding  their  existence." 

From  a  fourth  President  we  have  the  following : — 

"  The  literary  and  religious  effect  bad :  the  moral  effect  equivocal— 
on  good  boys  rather  injurious — on  bad  boys  rather  beneficial.  Mem 
bership  lowers  the  tone  of  piety  generally— non-membership  operates 
injuriously  on  the  character  and  the  standing  of  the  individuals  con 
cerned." 

"We  once  discountenanced  and  endeavored  to  suppress  them — and 
they  \vere  visibly  suppressed,  but  existed  unseen  in  a  still  worse  form 
— on  the  withdrawal  of  our  influence  they  gradually  reappeared." 

"  I  have  made  one,  nay  more  than  one  ineffectual  attempt  to  rid  this 
college* of  their  influence.  So  far  as  I  have  seen  all  direct  opposition 
has  only  aggravated  the  evil :  and  latterly  my  efforts  have  been  directed 
to  the  modification  and  direction,  rather  than  to  the  extermination  of 
these  societies,  which  I  have  always  regarded  as  an  evil — latterly  as 
an  evil  inseparable  from  an  assemblage  of  young  men — perhaps  of  men 
of  any  age,  etc." 

A  fifth  President  speaks  as  follows  : — 

"The  social,  moral,  and  religious  influences  have  been  modified 
with  the  state  of  feeling  at  different  times ;  but  on  the  whole  my  opin 
ion  is  that  they  have  been  evil  and  sometimes  very  much  so.  They 
create  clans  and  factions,  and  put  men  socially,  in  regard  to  each 
other,  into  an  artificial  and  false  position.  Their  tendency  is  to  lead 
men  to  associate  only  with  a  small  number  with  whom  they  may  have 
been  thrown  by  accident,  and  to  narrow  the  intellect  and  the  feeling. 
Of  course  the  alienation  of  feeling  and  want  of  cordiality  thus  created 
are  not  favorable  to  a  right  moral  and  religious  state." 


324  REMINISCENCES   OP  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

"I  suppose  it  would  be  desirable  that  secret  societies  should  be 
rooted  out  of  our  colleges  and  from  every  other  place.  If  all  these 
paltry  and  rival  associations  could  be  at  once  and  forever  broken  up 
there  can  be  no  doubt  it  would  be  a  great  blessing.  As  the  thing  is 
now,  I  very  much  doubt  whether,  with  such  facilities  for  concealment, 
it  would  be  possible  for  the  officers  of  the  colleges  to  do  any  thing  that 
would  be  effectual." 

The  sixth  gentleman  writes  thus  : — 

"  There  is  reason  to  believe  that  some,  at  least,  of  those  societies, 
have  on  the  whole  an  injurious  influence,  by  exciting  animosities, 
keeping  late  hours,  offering  temptations  for  drinking,  wasting  time, 
incurring  useless  expense,  etc.  There  are  altogether  too  many  of 
them." 

"We  have  not  undertaken  to  root  out  these  societies;  though  we 
have  sometimes  made  the  expediency  of  attempting  it  a  subject  of  in 
quiry.  Compulsory  measures  would  probably  render  some  of  them 
REALLY  secret,  instead  of  being  little  more  than  nominally  so." 

The  seventh  President  gives  his  opinion  as  follows : — 

"  I  am  of  opinion  that  the  tendency  of  such  societies  is  bad  of  neces 
sity,  that  is  so  long  as  they  have  the  power,  by  means  of  secercy,  of 
doing  mischief.  They  have  led  to  greater  unkindness  and  ill  feeling 
than  almost  any  thing  else  in  college." 

"  I  have  already  drawn  up  a  series  of  acts  to  be  passed  by  our  Cor 
poration,  which  will,  if  enacted,  very  much  tend  to  relieve  the  difficulty. 
They  require  1st,  that  the  constitution,  laws,  records,  list  of  officers 
and  members  be  always  open  to  my  inspection :  2d,  that  all  the  meet 
ings  be  held  by  day-light,  on  Saturday,  at  such  time  and  place  as  I 
shall  appoint :  3d,  I,  or  any  officer  of  college  whom  I  may  appoint, 
shall,  at  discretion,  attend  any  meeting  of  the  society :  4th,  if  these 
laws  are  violated  or  evaded,  the  Faculty  have  authority  to  suppress 
them  as  they  may  deem  expedient. — I  would  incomparably  rather 
resign  my  place  than  allow  young  men  the  right  to  meet  in  secret 
when  they  choose,  without  the  knowledge  of  the  Faculty." 

" The  A.  A.  4>."  says  an  eighth  President,  "has  lately  been  intro 
duced  here.  Its  professed  object  is  literary.  I  do  not  know  if  there 
be  any  other  secret  societies  of  this  description." — "  Judging  from  the 

characters  of  the  young  men  belonging  to whose  names  I  see 

on  a  catalogue  of  the  A.  A.  <1>.  printed  at  New  Haven,  in  1845,  no  bad 
influence  could  well  be  enacted  by  a  society  of  which  they  were  known 
to  be  members." 

«'  The  only  secret  society,  that  already  named,  known  to  exist  here, 
is  supposed  to  be  harmless,  and  its  meetings  are  permitted  to  be  held. 


SECRET   SOCIETIES.  325 

If  any  society  of  a  different  description  were  known  to  exist,  it  would 
be  prohibited ;  the  students  would  be  forbidden  to  join  it ;  and  if  it 
were  found  out  that  they  persevered  in  doing  so,  after  proper  caution, 
they  would  be  dismissed." 

The  reply  of  the  ninth  President  was  as  follows : — 
"Their  influence  not  suspected  at  first,  but  found  to  be  bad.  They 
break  the  college  into  parties,  produce  jealousies,  contentions  and  a 
difficulty  of  promoting  any  object  of  general  utility  among  the  students. 
Nothing  but  evil  results,  or  is  likely  to  result  from  them  upon  members 
themselves  as  students,  or  as  Christians,  and  no  good  to  those  who  are 
not  members.  They  are  a  mere  plague  to  any  college." 

"  The  societies  have  not  disturbed  the  order  of  the  college  so  as  to 
call  for  discipline.  But  we  fear  the  evil  will  grow,  if  unchecked,  and 
we  are  determined  to  arrest  it  by  law,  if  the  good  sense  of  the  students 
does  not  prevail." 

These  testimonies  and  opinions  were  of  essential  service  to' 
us  in  making  up  our  minds  what  course  duty  required  us  to 
adopt,  annoyed  as  we  frequently  were  by  the  secret,  and  at 
length  also  by  the  anti-secret  societies.  They  pressed  hard 
upon  us,  most  so,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  when  the  College  was  in 
a  depressed  and  critical  state,  and  they  thought  we  should 
yield  much  rather  than  come  to  an  open  rupture  with  so  large 
a  portion  of  the  College.  It  was  indeed  a  not  unfrequent  resort 
in  those  perilous  times,  when  parties  were  determined  to  carry 
their  points,  to  threaten  if  we  did  not  comply  with  their  wishes 
to  leave  College.  But  such  an  intimation  always  sealed  the 
fate  of  any  petition,  even  when  it  might  otherwise  be  granted. 
For  we  should  sooner  have  seen  the  College  scattered  to  the 
winds  than  to  seem  to  be  moved  by  such  a  threat.  We  did 
not  find  it  necessary  to  take  any  active  measures  against  these 
societies,  and  they  have  been  suffered  ever  since  to  exist.  And 
I  am  confident  that  the  evils  feared  from  them  have  much 
diminished.  I  impute  this  in  part  to  the  great  increase  of  their 
number.  For  so  long  as  we  allowed  one  to  exist  we  could  not 
consistently  deny  petitions  for  the  formation  of  half  a  dozen 
others.  But  such  a  number  took  in  necessarily  nearly  all 


S26  REMINISCENCES   OF  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

College,  and  thus  almost  every  one  had  a  chance  of  being  one 
of  the  elite. 

COLLEGE  HONORS. 

It  would  surprise  most  parents  to  be  informed  that  the  two 
most  powerful  influences  brought  to  bear  upon  their  sons  while 
in  college,  are  societies  and  college  honors  ;  understanding  by 
the  last  term  not  merely  the  honors  bestowed  by  the  Faculty, 
but  by  the  students  also  in  their  various  organizations.  Yet 
such  is  the  conclusion  to  which  I  have  been  forced  by  my 
observation.  I  except  those  cases  where  a  religious  influence, 
as  in  conversion,  comes  in  to  overmaster  all  other  moral  forces, 
and  doubtless  there  are  other  individual  exceptions.  But  the 
mighty  power  of  the  two  sources  mentioned  is  too  obvious  to 
be  overlooked  by  any  one  conversant  with  the  interior  life  of  a 
college.  I  shall  refer  to  only  a  few  of  the  signs  by  which  it  is 
indicated. 

There  is  first  the  great  efforts  put  forth  to  secure  the  elec 
tion  of  favorite  candidates  to  the  offices  of  honor  and  trust  in 
the  various  associations.  These  elections  are  often  as  hotly 
contested  as  are  those  for  the  various  offices  in  our  State  and 
National  governments.  Then  there  is  the  desperate  struggle 
that  takes  place  at  the  commencement  of  the  collegiate  year, 
to  secure  the  best  and  largest  number  of  the  new  comers  for 
the  different  societies,  to  give  popularity  and  prestige,  and  thus 
make  office  as  well  as  membership  in  them  more  honorable. 
These  elections  are  rarely  carried  through  without  exciting 
personal  hostilities  that  do  not  pass  away  with  the  occasion. 
But  as  these  transactions  do  not  come  into  collision  with  the 
Faculty,  I  shall  not  go  into  details. 

There  is,  secondly,  the  extreme  sensitiveness  manifested 
among  students  in  regard  to  the  honors  bestowed  by  the  Fac 
ulty.  Their  rank  at  the  various  public  performances  and  at 
Commencement  is  the  one  thing  on  which  most  of  them  fix 
their  eyes  from  first  to  last  most  anxiously.  Such  is  the  system 
adopted  by  the  Faculty  that  the  standing  is  not  officially  indi- 


COLLEGE   HONORS.  327 

cated  fully  till  near  the  end  of  their  course.  Else,  probably, 
many  more,  disheartened  or  disgusted,  would  quit  the  institution 
than  now  do,  giving  up  their  efforts  to  obtain  a  public  education 
or  trying  their  fortunes  at  some  other  college.  In  Freshman 
year,  certainly  the  first  term,  not  a  few  are  looking  confidently 
for  the  Valedictory.  However,  if  not  intolerably  self-conceited, 
they  soon  learn  to  moderate  their  expectations.  For  ere  long 
the  shrewder  minds  in  the  classes  locate  the  rank  of  their 
fellows  often  with  considerable  accuracy.  Driven  from  the 
Valedictory,  the  ambitious  man,  sustained  perhaps  by  the 
flattering  opinion  of  the  members  of  some  society  of  which  he 
is  member,  and  which  would  be  honored  by  his  honors,  clings 
for  a  time  to  the  Salutatory — then  to  the  Philosophical 
Oration — then  to  the  first  class  English  Orations ;  then  to  the 
second,  then  to  the  third  class,  or  as  it  used  to  be,  to  the  Dis 
putation,  the  Dissertation,  the  Disquisition,  the  Essay,  the 
Colloquy,  and  the  Conference.  Many  at  length  find  them 
selves  located  below  the  line  of  appointments,  since  often  that 
is  the  place  of  nearly  half  the  class.  Few,  however,  will  be 
driven  to  that  conclusion  till  the  close  of  Junior  year,  and 
perhaps  the  larger  part  not  till  the  distribution  of  Commence 
ment  honors  at  the  close  of  Senior  year.  But  whenever  their 
standing  is  publicly  fixed,  and  they  find  it,  as  great  multitudes 
always  do,  below  what  they  expected,  it  generally  gives  a 
terrible  blow  to  their  hopes,  and  they  feel  as  if  the  great  object 
of  their  education  had  failed.  Even  devotedly  pious  young 
men  often  conclude  that  their  hopes  of  usefulness  are  blasted, 
and  that  they  may  as  well  abandon  the  idea  of  becoming  min 
isters  and  missionaries  because  it  now  turns  out  that  they  have 
not  the  requisite  talents  for  usefulness.  I  have  repeatedly 
heard  such  make  these  statements  with  tears  in  their  eyes. 
Then  again,  it  is  terribly  mortifying  so  to  disappoint  anxious 
friends,  who  had  been  flattered  with  the  idea  that  their  sons 
and  acquaintances  stood  very  high  in  college  because  they  did 
in  the  academy.  They  had  calculated  to  be  present  at  Com 
mencement  to  see  their  young  friends  honored  at  graduation. 


328  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

But  now  they  will  not  come  at  all,  and  the  student  himself 
will,  if  possible,  avoid  being  present.  Indeed,  it  does  require 
no  small  amount  of  philosophy,  and  of  religion  too,  to  make  it 
a  pleasant  occasion  for  a  student  merely  to  witness  the  suc 
cessful  performance  of  and  the  showering  down  of  bouquets 
upon  successful  rivals,  while  his  only  chance  to  appear  upon 
the  stage  is  to  receive  his  diploma  in  silence. 

It  is  natural  in  such,  cases  to  presume  that  there  must  have 
been  favoritism  and  injustice  in  assigning  the  rank  of  the  dis 
appointed  student,  and  hence  strong  prejudices  are  awakened 
towards  particular  members  of  the  Faculty,  or  against  them 
all.  And  probably  at  no  time  is  the  spirit  of  rebellion  more 
easily  roused  and  developed,  than  after  the  public  announce 
ment  of  appointments.  Some  are  dreadfully  grieved,  and 
some  are  highly  exasperated.  I  have  known  a  worthy  young 
man  refuse  to  take  a  degree  —  and  I  believe  he  has  ever  since 
refused — because,  although  he  had  assigned  to  him  a  first 
class  English  oration — the  word  "  Philosophical "  was  not  pre 
fixed  to  it,  as  he  expected.  And  many  a  time  have  I  known 
applicants  to  be  released  from  performing  the  assigned  part, 
sometimes  on  account  of  health,  or  from  conscientious  scruples, 
or  for  no  reason,  when  we  knew  that  the  true  reason  was 
dissatisfaction  with  the  appointment. 

A  man  in  public  office  can  hardly  spend  his  time  more 
unprofitably  than  in  assigning  reasons  to  the  proud  and  ambi 
tious  for  having  disappointed  their  hopes.  The  stronger  and 
more  numerous  the  reasons,  the  more  exasperated  are  they. 
But  in  this  matter  I  found  many  honest  and  conscientious 
young  men,  not  inordinately  ambitious,  who  sincerely  thought 
that  their  failure  to  receive  an  appointment,  or  only  one 
rather  low,  was  an  evidence  that  they  could  not  be  useful  in 
future  life,  and  had  mistaken  the  path  of  duty.  I  would  say 
to  them,  that  three  years  hence  not  one  man  in  ten  thousand 
in  the  community  will  know  or  care  whether  you  received  an 
appointment  or  not  in  college,  or  of  what  grade  it  was,  if  they 
only  know  that  you  graduated  honorably.  Your  success  in 


RANK  OF  MISSIONARIES.  329 

life  will  depend  mainly  upon  what  you  do  hereafter,  and  men 
will  accept  and  employ  you  for  just  what  they  find  you 
capable  of  doing.  Your  literary  course  is  only  just  begun, 
and  you  have  now  got  the  means  of  development.  But  all 
such  suggestions  made  little  impression.  I  therefore  resorted 
to  another  argument.  A  large  number  of  foreign  missionaries 
had  gone  forth  from  our  College,  all  of  whom,  with  scarce  an 
exception,  had  become  very  useful,  as  every  body  acknowl 
edged.  I  looked  up  their  literary  standing  when  they  left 
College,  and  found,  curiously  enough,  that  it  corresponded 
tolerably  well  to  the  assignments  of  a  large  class  at  Com 
mencement.  The  facts  seem  to  me  to  possess  a  permanent 
interest,  and  therefore  I  subjoin  a  list  of  the  appointments 
and  non-appointments  of  all  the  missionaries  from  Amherst, 
described  under  Section  VI. 

Valedictorian. 
Henry  J.  Van  Lennep,  1837. 

Salutatory. 
1.  Ebenezer  Burgess,  1831.          |    2.  James  G.  Bridgman,  1842. 

Philosophical  Orations. 
1.  David  O.  Allen,  1823.  |    2.  Edwin  E.  Bliss,  1837. 

Greek  Oration. 
Elias  Riggs,  1829. 

English  Orations. 


1.  Elijah  C.  Bridgman,  1826% 

2.  George  W.  Boggs,  1827. 

3.  Reuben  Tinker,  1827. 

4.  Story  Hebard,  1828. 

5.  Justin  Perkins,  1829. 

6.  Samuel  .A.  Taylor,  1837. 

7.  William  W.  Howland,  1841. 

8.  Isaac  G.  Bliss,  1844. 

9.  Eliphal  Maynard,  1844. 
10.  H.  P.  Herrick,  1849. 


11.  Charles  Hartwell,  1849. 

12.  Henry  Lobdell,  1849. 

13.  S.  E.  Bishop,  1846. 

14.  G.  0.  Baldwin,  1851. 

15.  Daniel  Bliss,  1852. 

16.  H.  N.  Barnum,  1852. 

17.  C.  F.  Morse,  1853. 

18.  M.  H.  Hitchcock,  1854. 

19.  George  Washburn,  1855. 

20.  Amherst  L.  Thompson,  1856. 


Disputations. 

1.  Oliver  P.  Powers,  1830.  i    3.  James  C.  Bryant,  1836. 

2.  Benjamin  Schneider,  1830.       |    4.  Joseph  T.  Noyes,  1845. 


330  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMIIERST   COLLEGE. 

Dissertations. 
1.  Stephen  Johnson,  1827.  ,    6  Josiah  Tyler,  1845. 


2.  Benjamin  W.  Parker,  1829. 

3.  James  L.  Merrick,  1830. 


7.  A.  G.  Beebee,  1850. 

8.  F.  A.  Douglass,  1851. 


(Philosophical  Diss.)  |    9.  O.  P.  Allen,  1852. 

4.  Samuel  C.  Damon,  1836.          I  10.  I.  F.  Clarke,  1854. 

5.  Joel  S.  Everett,  1840. 

Disquisition. 
Joseph  G.  Cochran,  1842. 


1.  Ashur  Bliss,  1829. 

2.  Henry  Lyman,  1829. 

3.  William  Arms,  1830. 


Essays. 


4.  Henry  A.  Homes,  1830. 

5.  Obadiah  M.  Johnson,  1832. 

6.  Leander  Thompson,  1835. 


Conference. 
Alonzo  Chapin,  1826. 

Colloquy. 
John  Taylor  Jones,  1825. 

No  Appointment. 


1.  Edward  Jones,  1826.  (Col'd.) 

2.  Isaac  Bliss,  1828. 

3.  Aldin  Grout,  1831. 

4.  Israel  W.  Searl,  1832. 

5.  George  B.  Rowel,  1837. 

6.  William  Walker,  1838. 


7.  Henry  M.  Adams,  1851. 

8.  M.  M.  Carleton,  1851. 

9.  Samuel  C.  Dean,  1853. 

10.  J.  H.  Dodge,  1856. 

11.  Henry  M.  Bridgman,  1857. 

12.  Alvin  B.  Goodale,  1858. 


It  is  easy  to  see  how  such  a  table  as  this  must  make  any 
reasonable  Christian  man  feel  how  ridiculous  is  his  plea  that  he 
must  give  up  the  idea  of  being  useful  in  the  world,  because  he 
failed  to  obtain  a  Commencement  appointment,  when  he  sees 
such  names  as  Edward  Jones,  Aldin  Grout,  William  "Walker, 
and  Henry  M.  Adams  on  the  list  of  non-appointees ;  and  the 
same  may  be  said  of  the  lower  appointments,  where  we  find 
the  name  of  the  martyr  Lyman.  It  may,  indeed,  be  true 
that  the  higher  appointments  bring  names  before  us  who  have 
taken  the  lead  in  missionary  usefulness,  as  superior  talents 
conjoined  with  devoted  piety  ought  always  to  do  in  every 
enterprise.  But  were  the  names  of  the  whole  preceding  list 
laid  before  a  candid  man  and  he  was  requested  to  designate 


•PRESIDENT  JONES.  331 

their  literary  standing  in  college,  from  their  missionary  labors, 
he  would  probably  make  some  strange  inversions  of  Faculty 
decisions. 

There  is  one  very  striking  case  among  these  missionary 
non-appointees,  that  of  Edward  Jones.  He  was  the  only 
colored  student  who  ever  graduated  at  Amherst.  A  few  years 
after  graduation  he  went  out  to  Liberia  as  a  missionary  of  the 
Episcopal  church.  He  seems  to  have  transferred  his  relations 
to  an  English  society  and  was  appointed  President  of  the 
college  at  Sierra  Leone,  where  he  still  continues.  The 
English  bishops,  as  Rev.  Dr.  Perkins  informs  me,  have  lately 
been  discussing  the  question  of  making  Mr.  Jones  a  bishop, 
also,  and  the  only  reason  why  it  is  not  done  is  that  such  a 
dignity  has  never  been  conferred  upon  a  colored  man.  It  is 
not  probable  that  many  of  our  highest  missionary  appointees 
will  get  ahead  of  President  Jones  in  rank  and  dignity. 

The  spirit  of  rebellion,  as  I  have  already  intimated,  is  very 
apt  to  be  most  rife  in  college  after  a  class  have  learnt  to  whom 
honorary  appointments  have  been  assigned  and  from  whom 
they  have  been  withheld.  It  is  natural  that  the  disloyal  feel 
ing  should  culminate  about  Commencement,  so  that  if  any 
event  should  then  turn  up  that  would  form  a  nucleus  of  opposi 
tion,  the  rebellious  feelings  would  easily  crystallize  around  it. 
Then,  too,  would  be  the  most  uncomfortable  time  for  the 
Faculty  to  meet  it,  occupied  as  they  are  with  the  Trustees  and 
others  from  abroad.  I  met  one  case  of  this  kind  in  a  peculiar 
manner,  which  may  be  condemned,  although  it  was  successful. 
Probably  neither  Trustees  nor  Faculty  ever  heard  of  it,  but 
it  is  not  now  improper  to  describe  it.  One  of  the  appointees 
was  requested,  or  perhaps  required,  to  modify  or  omit  certain 
parts  of  his  performance  which  the  Faculty  knew  would 
injure  the  College  in  public  estimation.  He  presented  a  dis 
torted  view  of  the  case  to  his  Class,  and  in  their  zeal  they  drew 
up  a  remonstrance,  which,  .probably  without  their  being  con 
scious  of  it,  threw  them  into  a  state  of  rebellion.  This  they 
put  into  my  hands  only  a  few  hours  previous  to  Commence- 


332  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

ment,  when  my  whole  time  was  occupied  by  the  Trustees.  I 
sent  for  the  committee  of  the  Class  and  said  to  them,  "  Gentle 
men,  you  misunderstand  this  matter.  It  was  so  and  so,  and 
not  as  you  state  it.  But  your  document  brings  you,  uncon 
sciously,  I  doubt  not,  into  a  state  of  rebellion  against  the 
government  of  the  College.  If  I  present  it,  either  to  the 
Faculty  or  the  Trustees,  I  feel  sure  that  we  shall  have  no 
Commencement,  nor  you  any  diplomas.  I  have,  therefore, 
nearly  made  up  my  mind  to  pocket  this  paper,  and  not  let  the 
Faculty  or  Trustees  know  any  thing  about  it,  but  to  bear  the 
whole  force  of  it  myself,  rather  than  bring  such  evil  upon  you 
and  the  College.  If  satisfied  that  they  have  misapprehended 
the  case,  the  Class  should  rescind  these  resolutions ;  it  would 
relieve  the  whole  difficulty.  But  as  to  that  matter  you  can 
do  as  you  please."  Not  more  than  an  hour  or  two  after 
this  interview,  the  committee  returned  with  a  vote  of  the  Class 
rescinding  the  resolutions.  Had  I  not  been  satisfied,  from 
the  character  of  the  Class,  that  they  did  not  intend  to  insult  me 
or  the  Faculty,  I  should  not  have  ventured  upon  this  course. 
Whenever  the  applications  to  be  excused  the  performance 
of  assigned  parts  were  numerous  or  strong,  or  scruples  of 
conscience  were  manifested  against  the  system  of  honorary 
appointments,  we  generally  regarded  it  as  another  evidence 
of  great  sensitiveness  about  rank.  For  we  found  most  usually 
that  the  wish  to  be  excused,  on  account  of  poor  health  or 
pressing  engagements,  or  conscientious  scruples,  came  from 
those  who  had  low  appointments.  And  it  would  not  be 
reasonable  to  suppose  that  all  the  bad  health,  and  all  nice 
sensibility  of  conscience,  should  be  confined  to  the  lower  part 
of  the  scale.  I  do  not  doubt  that  there  are  some  cases  in 
which  students  are  really  quite  indifferent  to  college  honors, 
others  in  which  diffidence  or  feeble  health  have  made  them 
feel  really  unable  to  perform  their  part,  and  others  in  which 
men  have  had  honest  doubts  whether  honorary  distinctions  in 
college  should  not  be  opposed.  But  these  various  excuses 
have  usually  gone  in  waves  over  the  College.  At  one  time, 


ABUSE  OF  FRESHMEN.  333 

formerly,  conscience  became  so  loud  in  its  remonstrances  that 
the  whole  body  of  students  united  in  a  petition  to  the 
Trustees,  to  do  away  with  the  whole  system  of  honorary 
appointments.  The  most  noted  rebellion  the  College  has  ever 
experienced  resulted  from  the  treatment  by  the  Faculty  of  one 
who  pleaded  conscientious  scruples  against  the  performance 
of  his  part.  This  excuse,  indeed,  became  so  ridiculous  at 
length,  that  ebb  tide  on  this  subject  has  I  believe  continued 
ever  since.  Yet  there  have  been  seasons  since  when  bad 
health  became  alarmingly  prevalent.  And  some  of  the  Fac 
ulty  have  been  so  uncharitable  as  to  suppose  that  if  the 
Professor  of  Mathematics  could  have  told  them  how  to  dis 
tribute  a  single  high  appointment  among  many,  it  would 
have  proved  a  great  panacea,  both  for  the  mind  and  the  bodv. 

ABUSE  OF  FRESHMEN. 

This  is  another  of  the  standing  evils  of  College,  which 
weighs  heavily  upon  the  peace  of  the  President,  especially  in 
Amherst,  where  he  is  located  so  near  College  that  the  mid 
night  pow-wow  can  hardly  fail  to  disturb  his  slumbers. 
Formerly  these  assaults  upon  the  new  Class  used  to  cease 
after  a  few  weeks,  certainly  with  the  first  term.  But  in  later 
years  the  disturbance  is  kept  up  through  the  year,  and  indi 
viduals,  under  the  name  of  making  sport  with  freshmen,  take 
occasion  to  gratify  personal  grudges  against  individuals.  This 
of  course  provokes  retaliation,  and  lays  the  foundation  for  a 
quarrel  through  the  whole  of  college  life.  But  even  when 
fun  and  sport  are  the  professed  object,  such  recklessness  and 
abuse  are  often  witnessed  as  to  result  in  lasting,  and  some 
times  fatal  effects.  The  Scripture  hath  well  described  it 
when  the  wise  man  says :  "  As  a  madman  who  casteth  fire 
brands,  arrows  and  death,  so  is  the  man  that  deceiveth  his 
neighbor  and  saitk,  am  I  not  in  sport  ? "  Take  a  painful 
example  that  fell  under  my  own  observation  : — 

In  the  autumn  of  1847  a  young  man  from  a  neighboring 
town  joined  College,  of  whom  we  knew  little,  save  that  he 


REMINISCENCES   OP  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

was  a  good  scholar,  and  brother  of  a  man  who  graduated  only 
three  years  before,  leaving  an  excellent  character  as  a  scholar 
and  a  Christian.  The  Freshman,  however,  soon  disappeared 
from  College  in  consequence  of  poor  health.  Passing  near 
his  residence  some  months  after,  and  learning  that  he  was  quite 
low,  I  visited  him,  and  found  him  indeed  in  the  last  stages  of 
consumption.  Finding  him  sustained  by  the  Christian's  hope, 
and  having  had  dark  hints  that  his  sickness  had  originated 
from  the  treatment  he  received  as  a  Freshman,  I  made 
inquiry,  and  found  the  suspicions  painfully  true.  His  assail 
ants,  whom  he  did  not,  and  perhaps  could  not  name,  had 
entered  his  sleeping  room  and  drenched  his  bed  with  water. 
But  being  a  stranger  in  town,  and  unwilling  to  confess  himself 
driven  from  College,  he  ventured  to  occupy  the  driest  part  of 
his  wet  bed.  Up  to  that  night  he  had  never  been  sick ;  since 
that  time  he  had  never  been  well,  and  now  felt  himself  past 
recovery.  "Do  you  now  feel,"  said  I,  "as  if  you  could  forgive 
those  who  have  thus  murdered  you  ?  "  For  a  moment  I  per 
ceived  there  was  a  struggle  in  his  feelings ;  but  at  length  he 
replied :  "  Yes,  I  forgive  them."  He  had  cheerfully  given  up 
all  his  worldly  prospects ;  but  I  did  not  wonder  that  he  should 
reluctate  when  asked  to  pardon  the  authors  of  all  his  calami 
ties  ;  for  I  am  afraid  that  my  own  heart  even  at  last  had  less 
of  a  forgiving  spirit  than  his.  It  was  more  than  I  could  bear 
to  see  this  Christian,  talented  young  man,  who  had  looked 
forward  to  the  ministry,  now  on  the  bed  of  death  solely  as  the 
result  of  the  brutal  assault  of  those  who  probably  would  prove 
only  curses  to  the  world. 

Thus  died  JONATHAN  D.  TORRANCE,  of  Enfield,  the  victim 
of  a  barbarous  college  custom.  Whether  his  murderers  still 
haunt  the  earth  I  know  not,  but  I  do  know  that  they  must 
meet  him  at  the  judgment  seat 

The  Christian  public  cannot  understand  why  such  barbarous 
practices  are  not  rooted  out  of  our  colleges.  But  however 
faithful  instructors  are  in  ferreting  out  and  punishing  them, 
they  will,  in  my  opinion,  continue  so  long  as  two  other  tilings 


COLLEGE   FEATS.  335 

continue.  The  first  is  a  disposition  in  respectable  society  to 
listen  with  approbation  and  applause  to  the  smart  stories  told 
by  collegians  about "  rowing  Freshmen,"  and  outwitting  officers 
in  college.  It  is  the  desire  of  having  some  such  feats  to  tell 
of  to  admiring  friends  and  companions  that  forms  the  chief 
stimulus  to  the  performance  of  such  feats.  Were  their  stories 
met  among  respectable  people  by  frowns  and  rebukes,  instead 
of  approving  smiles  and  commendations  for  smartness,  abuses 
of  Freshmen  would  soon  be  given  up.  Until  Christian  men 
and  women  will  do  this,  I  have  no  hope  that  this  evil  can  be 
eradicated,  and  since  there  is  no  prospect  that  the  community 
will  thus  act,  I  expect  that  these  practices  will  continue. 
Many  expect  much  when  classes,  after  having  been  abused, 
pass  unanimous  votes  that  they  will  not  abuse  their  successors. 
But  I  have  seen  so  much  of  such  movements,  and  know  so 
well  what  such  kind  of  unanimity  means  and  how  easy  it  is  for 
young  men  to  change  their  minds,  and  how  contagious  evil 
influences  are  in  a  Class,  so  that  often  it  requires  only  a  very 
few  on  the  wrong  side  to  bring  large  numbers  there,  that  I 
have  little  confidence  in  any  such  movement. 

The  other  obstacle  in  the  way  of  reformation  is  the  disposi 
tion  too  often  manifested  in  the  older  classes,  even  by  many 
Christian,  conscientious  young  men,  to  speak  approvingly  of 
the  practice  on  account  of  its  good  effects  upon  forward,  self- 
conceited  young  men.  I  have  sometimes  even  heard  tutors 
extenuating  the  evil  by  such  a  view.  Let  Sophomores  only 
know  that  such  an  opinion  is  entertained  even  by  a  few  of  their 
Seniors,  whether  under-graduates  or  graduates,  and  the  decrees 
of  Professors  against  the  evil  will  be  like  feathers  thrown 
against  a  hurricane.  Those,  therefore,  take  a  very  serious 
responsibility  who  on  so  absurd  a  theory  connive  at  such  a 
practice.  So  long  as  they  do  it  I  expect  that  occasionally 
some  unsuspecting  Torrance  will  fall  a  victim. 

I  might  multiply  almost  indefinitely  this  list  of  petty  annoy 
ances  that  make  a  President's  seat  more  often  a  cushion  of 
briars  and  nettles  than  of  roses  or  feathers,  even  in  the  best 


336  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

regulated  and  most  Christian  of  our  colleges.  For  it  does  not 
require  more  than  half  a  dozen  really  wicked  and  shrewd 
young  men  to  keep  a  college  in  an  almost  constant  state  of  dis 
turbance  ;  and  the  stronger  the  religious  influence  is  in  a 
college,  the  more  certain  will  it  be  to  catch  thai  undesirable 
half  dozen,  because  godly  parents  who  have  a  reckless  son 
will  send  him  there  in  the  hope  of  his  conversion.  But  I  will 
not  enlarge  further  on  themes  so  unpleasant. 

FEEBLE  AND  DISCOURAGED. 

Entering  upon  the  Presidency  under  the  circumstances 
already  detailed,  and  with  such  wretched  health,  it  is  not 
strange  that  I  early  felt  as  if  the  pressure  were  too  heavy  for 
me  and  made  me  long  for  relief.  Even  as  early  as  my  second 
annual  report  to  the  Trustees  I  said  that  "  I  had  reached  that 
state  in  which  my  life  is  little  else  but  a  scene  of  severe  suffer 
ing,  while  I  have  not  the  consolation  of  thinking  that  those 
sufferings  are  accomplishing  any  important  good.  I  desire 
indeed  not  to  strike  my  tent  till  I  clearly  see  the  cloud  rising. 
Better  would  it  be  to  die  at  my  post ;  and  indeed  I  have  felt 
that  if  the  College  could  thereby  be  carried  through  its  present 
exigency  I  ought  not  to  shrink  even  from  such  a  sacrifice. 
But  when  I  see  that  probably  the  result  is  not  to  be  obtained 
by  this  means,  it  looks  to  me  as  if  the  cloud  were  beginning  to 
rise,  and  that  I  ought  to  be  prepared  to  follow." 

How  little  understood  by  me  at  that  time  were  the  indica 
tions  and  dealings  of  Providence  !  I  found  at  length  that  my 
feebleness  and  despondency  were  the  means  through  which 
help  and  deliverance  came  to  the  College.  For  they  led  me 
utterly  to  despair  of  any  thing  I  could  do  to  this  end,  so  that 
if  help  should  come  it  was  not  through  my  own  strength  or 
wisdom.  Then,  and  not  till  then,  was  God's  arm  laid  bare. 
I  was  led,  as  a  preparation  for  my  own  release  from  the  Pres 
idency,  to  seek  the  endowment  of  my  Professorship,  so  that 
sure  means  might  be  provided  for  the  support  of  my  successor. 
God  went  before  me  and  prepared  the  way  for  success,  and 


SOJOURN   IN   VIRGINIA.  337 

then  in  rapid  succession  occurred  that  wonderful  series  of 
developments  in  our  financial  history  which  I  have  already 
described.  The  exhilaration  produced  by  the  change  gave  me 
new  life  to  perform  my  duties  and  battle  with  disease.  But 
the  conflict  still  went  on,  and  in  1847  my  physician  advised 
me  to  spend  the  spring  in  a  warmer  climate.  I  went  to  Rich 
mond,  in  Virginia,  stopping  a  week  or  ten  days  in  New  York, 
and  put  myself  under  the  care  of  Dr.  Green,  with  his  probang, 
nitrate  of  silver  and  iodine.  The  transition  from  the  icy 
streets  and  boreal  blasts  of  New  York  to  the  green  and  flowery 
banks  of  James  River  and  the  zephyrs  of  Richmond  was 
delightful,  and  a  quiet  residence  of  six  or  seven  weeks  in  the 
pleasant  family  of  Dr.  Wilder,  proved  of  great  service  to  my 
health,  in  connection  with  Dr.  Green's  medication,  and  gave 
me  strength  for  at  least  two  years  more. 

During  this  sojourn  at  Richmond  I  met  with  several  inci 
dents  that  might  be  of  some  interest  were  I  to  describe  them 
here.  It  gave  me  some  opportunity  to  witness  the  operations 
of  slavery  close  at  hand,  which  I  believe  is  not  apt  to  make  a 
Northerner  in  love  with  it,  though  it  often  awakens  as  much 
compassion  for  the  master  as  for  his  vassal.  One  also  sees 
how  complete  a  metamorphosis  society  must  undergo  if  slavery 
is  abolished,  and  it  makes  us  fear  that  the  present  war  cannot 
do  it  away  unless  it  obliterates  the  masters  and  colonizes  the 
country  anew.  One  also  becomes  satisfied  that  the  Northern 
system  of  free  schools  for  all  classes  can  never  be  brought  into 
operation  in  a  slave  country,  unless  it  be  in  the  cities. 

But  I  must  not  go  into  speculations  on  these  topics,  although 
the  present  state  of  the  country  almost  irresistibly  invites  to 
it.  The  most  interesting  incident  that  met  me  in  relation  to 
slavery,  while  at  Richmond,  was  on  a  visit  to  the  Mid  Lothian 
Coal  Mines,  not  far  from  that  city.  Into  those  mines,  nearly 
a  thousand  feet  deep,  Mrs.  Hitchcock  and  myself  had  descend 
ed  in  the  miner's  bucket,  and  were  wandering  about  in  the 
dark  caverns  of  the  mine,  when  we  met  with  a  blind  slave,  of 
whom  I  gave  an  account  in  one  of  the  Richmond  papers,  and 
15 


338  REMINISCENCES   OP    AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

also  in  the  "  Amherst  Express."  The  American  Tract  Society 
thought  the  facts  important  enough  to  constitute  No.  126  of 
their  tracts. 

TOUR  IN  EUROPE. 

In  spite  of  the  favorable  and  sustaining  influences  under 
which  I  was  now  acting,  I  found  my  constitution  yielding  to 
the  insidious  assaults  of  disease.  I  had  given  the  Trustees  to 
understand  that  just  so  soon  as  they  could  find  another  man 
to  take  my  place,  I  should  consider  it  a  great  favor  to  be 
released.  Indeed,  there  was  a  sort  of  understanding  when  I 
took  the  Presidency,  that  when  the  College  had  passed  through 
its  pecuniary  exigency  I  might  be  allowed  to  fall  back  to  my 
former  professorship.  That  exigency  was  now  over ;  the 
institution  was  free  from  debt,  and  with  funds  sufficient  to 
enable  it,  with  economy,  to  go  successfully  forward ;  the  ques 
tion  of  its  permanent  existence  was  now  settled ;  its  numbers 
were  increasing,  and  I  did  not  cease  from  time  to  time  to 
remind  the  Trustees  of  my  wishes.  Instead  of  heeding  them, 
however,  at  their  meeting  in  1849  they  voted,  without  any 
suggestion  of  mine,  and  even  contrary  to  my  wishes,  to  give 
me  leave  of  absence  for  six  months,  for  a  tour  to  Europe.  As 
my  health  and  circumstances  were  I  had  no  wish  for  such  an 
excursion,  but  in  the  spring  of  1850  every  circumstance 
seemed  to  point  me  towards  the  rising  sun,  and  reluctantly 
myself  and  Mrs.  Hitchcock  began  our  preparations  for  the 
voyage — for  it  seemed  indispensable  that  she  should  accom 
pany  me,  which  was  a  real  cross  to  her  also.  We  went,  and 
though  I  suffered  much  from  wretched  health  and  depressed 
spirits,  yet  Providence  ordered  every  thing  so  mercifully — 
almost  miraculously,  sometimes — that  we  were  carried  over 
10,600  miles  of  travel  without  injury  to  a  hair  of  our  heads, 
and  almost  without  the  ordinary  discomforts  of  travel.  I  did 
indeed  suffer  very  much  on  both  voyages,  not  merely  from 
sea-sickness,  but  from  the  stirring  up  and  aggravation  of  all 
my  chronic  complaints,  and  I  think  that  my  sufferings, 


TOUR  IN  EUROPE.  339 

during  each  voyage  of  ten  or  twelve  days,  was  scarcely 
less  than  the  same  length  of  time  in  any  fever  of  my  life. 
But  on  the  land  I  was  never  detained  by  poor  health 
more  than  one  or  two  days.  Still  I  seemed  to  be  losing 
ground  all  summer.  My  cough  was  aggravated,  my  appetite 
poor,  and  I  became  much  emaciated.  Indeed,  I  felt  as  if  I 
could  only  live  to  get  home  to  die,  I  ought  not  to  expect  more. 
But  stopping  a  few  hours  in  Halifax,  and  sauntering  forth  into 
the  city,  I  met  the  pleasant  north-west  breeze  of  October, 
which  always  had  exhilarated  me  in  past  years,  if  any  thing 
would,  and  did  now  seem  to  awaken  some  of  the  old  feeling. 
Our  run  to  Boston  was  a  pleasant  one.  I  found  every  thing 
pleasant  at  home,  and  was  even  received  with  unexpected 
cordiality  by  the  students ;  so  that  my  health  went  on  improv 
ing  for  a  considerable  time.  Health  was  not  indeed  restored, 
but  simply  new  power  acquired  to  contend  with  disease  for  a 
longer  time.  This  recuperative  influence  was  not  wholly  lost 
upon  me  for  many  years,  and  I  doubt  not  that  this  European 
four  has  enabled  me  to  perform  double  the  labor  since  which 
I  could  have  accomplished  without  it. 

It  is  not  my  purpose  to  draw  out  an  itineracy  of  my  foreign  trip. 
It  may  not  be  irrelevant,  however,  to  mention  a  few  things  not 
usually  noticed  in  books  of  European  travel.  And  as  to  my  route 
from  Liverpool,  I  will  indicate  only  its  general  course.  "We  were 
accompanied  by  John  Tappan,  Esq.,  and  lady,  and  as  he  had  before 
visited  Europe  four  or  five  times,  and  was  willing  to  take  the  direc 
tion  of  our  pecuniary  affairs,  and  knew  how  to  meet  every  exigency 
in  travel,  and  I  was  ignorant  of  all, — his  presence,  with  that  of  his 
amiable  wife,  was  a  great  favor,  and  saved  me  from  many  an  uncom 
fortable  dilemma.  Our  first  trip  was  through  the  mountains  of 
North  Wales.  Thence,  we  passed  southerly,  following  the  Wye,  to 
Bristol ;  thence  we  passed  to  Bath  and  Southampton,  and  crossed  to 
the  Isle  of  Wight,  whose  whole  southern  coast  we  explored,  and 
passed  thence  to  London,  through  Brighton.  Just  as  we  were  about 
leaving  London  for  the  Continent,  I  received  from  the  Government 
of  Massachusetts  a  commission  to  visit  the  agricultural  schools  of 
Europe,  and  this  modified  my  course.  I  determined  to  visit  some 
of  the  principal  agricultural  schools  of  England,  Ireland  and 


340  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

Scotland,  before  passing  over  to  the  Continent.  I  went  first  to 
Cirencester,  where  is  a  large  school;  thence  through  Wales  and 
Anglesey,  to  Dublin,  in  Ireland ;  thence  along  the  east  coast,  where 
are  several  schools,  to  the  Giant's  Causeway;  thence  through  Bel 
fast,  to  Glasgow,  and  subsequently  to  the  Highlands  of  Scotland,  as 
far  as  the  parallel  roads  of  Lochaber ;  thence  to  Edinburgh.  From 
thence  I  went  back  to  London,  through  the  central  parts  of  England ; 
from  thence  to  Dover,  and  across  the  channel  to  Calais  ;  from  thence 
through  Belgium,  and  up  the  Rhine  to  Frankfort,  Weissbaden,  and 
Heidelberg  ;  from  thence  to  Basle,  in  Switzerland;  thence  to  Zurich, 
and  over  Mount  Righi,  to  Lucerne  ;  from  thence  to  Berne  and  Vevay ; 
from  thence  to  Geneva,  across  Lake  Leman  ;  thence  to  Chamouney  ; 
thence  through  Tete  Noire,  to  Martigny ;  thence  down  the  Rhone, 
and  over  Leman  to  Geneva  again;  thence  over  the  Jura,  across 
France,  to  Paris  ;  thence  to  Versailles,  and  to  Grignon,  where  is  an 
agricultural  school ;  thence  back  again  to  Paris ;  thence  to  Boulogne, 
and  across  to  Folkstone ;  thence,  through  London,  to  Liverpool, 
where  we  embarked,  and  returned  to  Boston,  having  been  absent 
158  days,  and  travelled  10,647  miles  :  6,000  of  which  were  upon  the 
ocean,  2,444  in  Great  Britain,  and  1,9G3  on  the  Continent.  This 
gave  as  an  average  for  each  day  of  travel,  67  miles.  Yet  we  did 
not  hurry ;  and  it  is  an  interesting  fact,  that  such  are  now  the  facili 
ties  of  travel  by  steam-boats  and  railroads,  that  it  is  not  necessary 
to  allow  much,  if  any  time,  for  locomotion,  so  that  we  need  only  to 
calculate  how  much  time  we  want  at  our  stopping  places. 

Before  starting,  I  fixed  upon  the  following  as  the  chief  objects  of 
the  tour. 

1.  To  recover  health,  or  rather  to  arrest,  for  a  little  while,  the 
progress  of  disease.     Every  other  object  I  intended  should  be  sub 
servient  to  this. 

2.  To   meet  face  to   face,    a    few  religious    and   scientific    men 
with  whom  I  had  had  a  pleasant  correspondence,  or  for  whom  I  had 
acquired  a  high  respect. 

3.  To  give  my  first  attention  to  objects  specially  connected  with 
my  profession,  viz. :  the  geology  and  scenery  of  the  country,  and 
the  cabinets  of  natural  history. 

4.  To  visit  some  of  the  most  important  of  the  literary  and  scien 
tific  institutions,  and  to  give  special  attention,   as  I  concluded  to  do 
after  reaching  England,  to  the  agricultural  schools. 

5.  To  mingle  as  much  as  I  could  with  the  common  people,  and 
learn  their  condition  and  feelings. 


OBJECTS   IN   VIEW.  341 

6.  To  take  a  glance,  as  far  as  time  and  strength  would  permit,  at 
the  old  castles,   cathedrals  and  the  modern  palaces,  churches  and 
private  residences,  roads,  railroads,  bridges  and  the  galleries  of  art. 

7.  To  take  the  privilege  of  a  cat  in  looking  upon  a  king,  a  queen, 
a  nobleman,  or  military  chief,  should  such  a  one  cross  my  path. 

With  these  objects  in  view,  I  adopted  the  following  rules  : — 

1.  To  avoid  great  excitement  and  excessive  fatigue,  even  though 
compelled  to  give  up  some  of  the  objects  above  named.     I  curbed 
my  ambition  to  see  every  thing  of  interest  when  I  found  it  would  too 
severely  tax  my  powers  of  endurance.    I  met  with  some  invalids, 
much  stronger  than  I  was,  who  very  soon  got  themselves  on  the  sick 
list  by  attempting  too  much,  and  they  lost  so  much  time  in  the  physi 
cian's  hands,  that  I  believe  I  saw  more  in  the  long  run  than  they  did. 
Certainly,   in  five   months  of  sight-seeing,   I   saw  more  than  my 
memory  would  bring  over  the  ocean. 

2.  To  content  myself  with  seeing  one  or  two  things  of  a  sort  when 
not  convenient  to  see  more. 

3.  Not  to  take  many  letters  of  introduction  to  gentlemen  of  dis 
tinction,  or  attempt  to  get  introduced  to  them,  merely  to  be  able  to 
say,  on  my  return,  that  I  had  seen  and  conversed  with  them.     I  do 
not  remember  to  have  taken  any  letters  of  introduction,  except  one 
to    Hugh  Miller,  kindly  handed  me   by  a  gentleman    as    I    was 
leaving  Boston. 

We  did  not  follow  the  usual  route  of  tourists  from  Liver 
pool  to  London,  but  made  a  detour  of  some  five  hundred  miles 
through  North  and  South  Wales,  thence  to  Bath  and  South 
ampton,  and  to  the  Isle  of  Wight,  and  from  thence  through 
Brighton  to  London.  This  gave  us  an  opportunity  to  see 
much  of  the  most  romantic  scenery  and  the  most  interesting 
rock  formations  in  England,  the  very  classic  ground,  in  fact, 
of  English  geology.  We  ascended  Snowdon,  the  highest 
mountain  in  England,  and  Cader  Idris,  not  much  less  elevated. 
When  we  reached  tlie  summit  of  Snowdon  we  encountered  a 
heavy  shower,  and  were  enveloped  in  a  dense  fog.  But  ere 
long  the  clouds  and  fog  settled  down  beneath  us,  and  vista 
after  vista  opened  through  them,  bringing  at  length  into  view 
all  the  wild  scenery  of  the  western  coast  of  Wales,  and  dis 
closing  prospects  in  every  direction,  of  vast  extent  and  deep 
interest.  How  interesting  to  be  able  to  pick  out  marine  petri- 


842  REMINISCENCES   OF  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

fied  shells  from  the  rock,  at  the  summit,  now  thirty-five 
hundred  feet  above  the  sea  level.  The  views  from  Cader 
Idris  are  some  of  them  even  more  romantic,  and  the  geology 
no  less  interesting. 

In  passing  into  Wales  we  travelled  over  the  famous  rail 
road  constructed  by  Stephenson,  senior,  with  its  numerous 
tunnels  and  its  tubular  bridges  at  Conway  and  Bangor,  then 
the  only  structures  of  this  kind  in  the  world,  and  the  wonder 
of  mechanicians.  At  Bangor,  too,  is  one  of  the  best  suspen 
sion  bridges  in  the  world,  spanning  the  Menai  Straits,  as  does 
the  tubular  bridge.  Turning  into  the  mountains,  we  travelled 
by  post  all  the  way  to  Bristol.  This  mode  of  travelling  I 
have  rarely  seen  noticed  by  travellers,  and  yet  over  the  finely 
macadamized  English  roads,  it  is  decidedly  the  most  agreeable 
mode  of  transportation  I  have  ever  tried.  There  were  four 
in  our  party,  and  we  usually  chose  the  carriage  called  "  The 
Fly,"  which  enabled  us  to  accommodate  ourselves  to  all  kinds 
of  weather.  We  tried  this  mode  of  travelling  several  times 
on  the  Continent,  where  the  system  did  not  seem  as  well 
regulated  as  in  England,  though  our  principal  experience  was 
a  night  trip  over  the  Jura  mountains,  from  Geneva  to  Dijon. 
But  in  England,  by  this  mode  you  can  go  when  and  where 
you  desire,  and  as  fast  or  slow  as  horses  can  carry  you. 
Probably  the  chief  reasons  why  it  is  not  more  generally  used, 
are  that  it  requires  more  time  than  the  railroad,  the  stage,  or 
the  diligence,  and  is  considerably  more  expensive.  But  of  all 
means  of  locomotion  which  I  have  ever  tried,  post  travelling 
is  the  most  agreeable. 

The  most  interesting  phenomena  which  met  me  in  the 
mountains  of  Wales,  were  the  marks  of  ancient  glaciers. 
Although  I  had  then  never  seen  a  glacier,  and  had  forgotten 
whether  English  geologists  had  supposed  them  once  to  have 
existed  in  Wales,  a  few  days'  observation  satisfied  me  that 
great  masses  of  ice  must  once  have  descended  from  the  high 
est  parts  of  the  mountains,  through  the  valleys,  wearing  down 
and  smoothing  their  bottoms  and  sides  up  to  a  certain  altitude, 


GLACIERS   IN   WALES.  343 

the  whole  corresponding  to  glacier  action.  When,  a  few  weeks 
subsequently,  I  attended  the  meeting  of  the  British  Scientific 
Association,  a  paper  had  been  read  on  drift,  and  Sir  Roderick 
L  Murchison  called  on  me  to  state  my  views  as  to  the  drift 
phenomena  in  America,  compared  with  the  same  in  Great 
Britain,  I  took  the  liberty  of  stating  my  strong  conviction  as 
to  the  ancient  glaciers  of  Wales,  and  turning  towards  Profes 
sor  Ramsey,  who  had  charge  of  the  geological  survey  of  that 
district,  I  said :  "  So  distinct  are  these  markings  that  when 
that  gentleman  makes  his  final  report,  I  shall  expect  to  see  a 
map  of  the  ancient  glaciers  of  Snowdonia."  He  bowed  and 
smiled,  but  I  had  no  subsequent  conversation  with  him.  Yet 
several  years  afterwards  I  met  him  at  the  meeting  of  the 
American  Scientific  Association  in  Montreal,  where  he  read  a 
paper  on  drift.  I  rose  and  stated  what  I  had  said  before  the 
British  Association,  and  turning  to  Professor  Ramsey,  asked 
him  whether  my  prediction  had  proved  true,  and  whether  he 
had  mapped  the  glaciers  of  Snowdonia.  "Yes,"  says  he, 
"  I  have  done  it,  and  I  took  your  mode  of  representing  drift 
striae  as  my  model,"  or  words  to  that  effect. 

I  was  much  pleased  with  what  I  saw  of  the  character  of 
the  Welch.  I  spent  a  Sabbath  in  Dolgelly,  where  is  the  old 
structure  in  which  Owen  Glendwyr  held  his  Parliament  in 
1404.  The  day  was  observed  with  great  strictness,  and  the 
churches  were  filled.  I  became  acquainted  with  several  min 
isters  of  the  Independent  Church,  and  at  the  request  of  Rev. 
Cadwalder  Jones,  preached  a  sermon  in  English,  which  was 
translated  into  Welch  by  Rev.  Mr.  Rees,  the  well  known  mis 
sionary,  and  the  other  parts  of  the  service  were  in  Welch.  I 
could  see  that  the  audience  were  much  more  interested  in  the 
sermon  as  translated,  with  some  episodes  of  my  personal  his 
tory,  as  I  was  told,  than  in  its  original  delivery.  I  could  see 
also  that  the  Welch  language  was  admirably  adapted  for 
impassioned  appeals. 

We  made  a  rather  thorough  reconnoissance  of  the  Isle  of 
Wight,  especially  of  its  southern  and  western  coast.  The 


344  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

whole  is  full  of  interest,  both  for  its  civil  history  and  its 
geology.  I  believe  tourists  do  not  usually  go  farther  west 
than  Freshwater  Bay.  But  in  my  view  the  most  romantic 
scenery  and  geology  lie  beyond,  among  the  chalk  needles  and 
overhanging  cliffs  and  domes  of  chalk,  and  the  variegated  and 
upturned  strata  of  Alum  Bay.  These  can  be  best  seen  by 
taking  an  open  boat  from  Freshwater  Bay,  which  in  calm 
weather  is  quite  pleasant.  Let  no  geologist  imagine  that  he 
has  seen  the  Isle  of  Wight  who  has  not  been  to  Alum  Bay. 

FIDELITY  OF  ENGLISH  CHRISTIANS. 

I  met  with  an  incident  on  this  trip,  and  another  subsequently  in  Lon 
don,  that  led  me  to  inquire  whether  there  is  not  a  frankness  and  fidelity 
among  English  Christians  rarely  seen  among  us,  and  perhaps  worthy 
of  our  imitation.  As  \ve  passed  through  North  Wales  two  or  three 
clergymen,  I  believe  of  the  Established  Church,  came  into  the  cars  on 
a  pleasure  excursion  to  Bangor.  We  soon  got  into  conversation,  and 
something  which  I  said,  I  never  could  imagine  what,  led  one  of  them 
to  the  suspicion  that  I  was  sceptical,  or  at  least  ignorant  of  experimental 
religion.  I  suspect  that  my  military  cap,  which  I  had  worn  on  ship 
board,  and  had  not  yet  doffed,  had  something  to  do  with  awakening 
his  suspicions  that  I  had  no  sympathy  with  heart  religion,  and  he  at 
once,  in  a  gentlemanly  but  decided  manner,  made  a  personal  appeal 
and  exhortation  to  me  as  to  my  state  and  prospects.  As  soon  as  I  saw 
his  object  I  encouraged  him  to  go  on,  by  my  silence  at  least,  and  per 
haps  by  some  ambiguous  remarks,  for  I  wanted  to  hear  him  through. 
When  he  had  finished  I  said  to  him,  "I  thank  you,  Sir,  for  your  fidelity, 
which  I  am  rejoiced  to  see.  I  agree  with  you,  and  sympathize  with 
you,  in  all  you  have  said,  and  hope  I  know  something  experimentally 
on  this  subject."  He  was  taken  quite  aback,  and  apologized  for  his 
apparent  rudeness. 

Again,  when  in  London,  I  called  on  a  merchant  in  extensive  busi 
ness  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  whose  name  was  George 
Hitchcock — I  called  without  an  introduction  to  make  some  inquiries 
about  the  name  of  Hitchcock  in  England.  He  received  me  cordially, 
but  said  at  once  "  before  we  proceed  to  other  business  I  should  like  to 
know  your  views  on  the  great  subject  of  religion."  "  Of  course,"  said 
I,  "  I  am  a  believer  in  Christianity."  "  That,"  said  he,  •<  is  not  exactly 
what  I  want  to  know — but  rather  whether  you  feel  yourself  to  be 
personally  interested  in  Christ."  This  was  to  the  point,  and  being 
answered  satisfactorily,  our  subsequent  interview  was  very  pleasant. 


LONDON.  345 

I  mention  these  instances  because  I  have  not  met  with  such  frankness 
and  fidelity  as  this  in  our  country,  and  it  struck  me  not  as  rude  and 
uncivil,  but  in  accordance  with  true  Christian  character  and  impulses. 
To  me,  a  stranger  in  a  foreign  land,  it  was  certainly  very  agreeable ; 
much  more  so  than  the  reserve  and  distance  so  common  on  our 
thoroughfares  and  among  professing  Christians.  At  least  I  felt  rebuked 
for  my  own  want  of  frankness  and  fidelity,  as  a  Christian. 

IN  LONDON. 

After  Daniel  Webster  had  been  a  fortnight  in  London,  he 
was  asked  what  he  thought  of  it,  and  he  replied  that  he  had 
not  yet  done  wondering.  A  month's  sojourn  there,  first  and 
last,  left  me  with  much  of  the  same  feeling.  But  the  principal 
objects  and  sights  in  and  around  the  city  have  been  so  often 
described  as  to  need  nothing  further  from  me.  My  peculiar 
tastes  and  objects  brought  me  in  contact  with  some  things  not 
usually  visited,  and  I  shall  refer  to  a  few  of  them  briefly. 

My  penchant  for  natural  history  led  me  to  look  up  the 
collections  of  geology,  zoology  and  comparative  anatomy.  Of 
course  the  British  Museum  was  a  place  of  frequent  resort  to 
which,  as  well  as  to  its  library,  I  was  permitted  daily  access. 
But  I  found  other  collections  of  deep  interest.  One  of  these 
was  that  of  the  London  Geological  Society  in  Somerset  House 
in  the  Strand.  It  is  an  admirable  collection,  but  most  unfor 
tunately  situated  as  to  light.  I  found  this  to  be  the  case  with 
a  large  part  of  the  public  cabinets  which  I  saw  in  Europe. 
As  we  were  at  that  time  about  erecting  cabinets  in  Amherst, 
my  attention  was  called  particularly  to  this  point.  And  I 
came  to  this  conclusion,  that  where  the  light  was  introduced 
through  sky-lights  in  the  centre  of  the  room,  the  specimens 
showed  well ;  still  better,  perhaps,  if  brought  in  through  win 
dows  in  the  walls  immediately  below  that  ceiling,  and  best  of 
all,  where  there  are  such  lights  and  sky-lights  besides.  This 
is  the  case  with  the  new  Museum  of  Economical  Geology  in 
Jermain  Street,  near  Picadilly.  This  was  erected  by  the 
government  to  receive  the  fruits  of  the  geological  survey  of 
England,  a  similar  one  being  built  in  Dublin  in  Ireland,  and 
15* 


346  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

another  in  Scotland.  I  saw  that  only  in  London,  and  that 
only  as  a  special  favor,  for  in  1850  it  was  not  open  to  the 
public.  But  even  then  it  contained  a  rich  collection,  and  as 
to  light  and  arrangement,  I  think  it  ahead  of  any  cabinet 
which  I  saw  in  Europe.  How  much  better,  for  instance,  did 
the  specimens  show  than  in  the  crowded  and  poorly  lighted 
rooms  of  the  School  of  Mines  in  Paris,  which  is  an  analogous, 
much  older  and  more  numerous  collection. 

The  natural  history  room  of  the  great  Museum  in  the 
city  of  York  is  lighted  by  windows  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
walls,  and  the  fine  collections  are  thus  shown  off  to  great 
advantage.  How  much  better  than  in  the  comparatively  dark 
rooms  in  the  University  of  Dublin,  and  the  Hunterian  Museum 
of  Glasgow.  -  In  the  University  of  Edinburgh  the  natural 
history  rooms,  as  well  as  the  library,  are  fitted  up  in  a  very 
excellent  manner  and  costly  style.  I  noticed  that  the  stuffed 
animals  are  arranged  in  a  very  unusual  manner.  They  are 
placed  in  various  attitudes  all  over  the  floor,  so  that  the  visitor 
moves  about  among  bears  and  hyenas,  tigers  and  lions,  with 
open  mouths  and  life-like  aspect.  And  I  should  think  some 
persons  of  sensitive  temperament  would  shrink  from  the 
promenade.  The  west  room,  containing  the  birds,  shells  and 
minerals,  both  in  its  architectural  proportions  and  its  lighting, 
is  perhaps  the  finest  I  saw  in  Great  Britain.  The  mineral 
cases  are  of  mahogany.  The  library  room  is  perhaps  the 
most  imposing,  certainly  for  such  a  purpose,  that  I  have  ever 
seen.  "What  a  contrast  between  this  and  the  very  plain, 
unpainted,  unglazed  shelves  of  some  of  the  German 
Universities ! 

The  Hunterian  Museum,  near  Lincoln's  Inn  Fields,  of  Comparative 
and  Morbid  Anatomy,  is  perhaps  the  finest  in  Europe,  and  especially 
worthy  the  attention  of  Americans,  because  as  yet  we  have  only  begun 
such  collections.  It  is  admirably  lighted  from  near  the  top,  and  pre 
sents  the  subject  of  comparative  anatomy  in  a  most  attractive  light. 
\Ve  have  first,  skeletons  of  the  whole  series  of  animals,  from  man 
downwards,  systematically  arranged.  Then,  in  proper  order,  we  have 
the  softer  parts  of  animals  preserved  in  alcohol.  The  skeleton  of  the 


HUNTERIAN  MUSEUM.  347 

Irish  Giant,  8  feet  4  inches  high,  stands  by  the  side  of  that  of  a  female 
dwarf  only  10  inches  high.  There  are  extinct  animals  here  as  well  as 
those  now  alive  ;  among  the  former,  the  Glyptodon,  with  its  armadillo- 
like  armor,  three  feet  in  diameter ;  also,  a  cast  of  the  skeleton  of  the 
famous  giant  bird,  the  Dinornis.  Prof.  Richard  Owen,  the  ablest  of 
European  comparative  anatomists,  who  was  the  soul  of  this  collection, 
it  is  well  known,  first  brought  to  light  this  great  New  Zealand  bird. 
He  had  a  room  in  the  Museum,  and-  kindly  spent  an  hour  or  two  in 
showing  us  its  riches.  He  brought  forward  the  original  bone — a  frag 
ment  of  a  femur  only  six  inches  long,  from  which,  by  the  laws  of  com 
parative  anatomy,  he  first  constructed  and  described  the  Dinornis — the 
greatest  zoological  discovery  of  the  present  century.  His  friends 
warned  him  not  to  risk  his  reputation  upon  so  slender  a  proof  of  the 
former  existence  of  this  bird,  as  the  mere  fragment  of  a  bone ;  but  he 
had  more  confidence  in  the  principles  of  anatomy  than  in  their  opinion, 
and  as  the  result  showed,  with  good  reason. 

Among  the  private  collections  which  I  visited  in  London,  was  the 
great  one  in  conchology,  of  Mr.  Cummings,  No.  80  Gower  Street. 
This  has  a  larger  number  of  species  of  shells  than  any  other  in  the 
world  ;  though  as  to  varieties,  it  is  said  that  Prof.  Adam's  collection  at 
Amherst,  is  much  richer.  Agassiz  pronounces  it,  in  this  respect,  un 
equalled.  Mr.  Cummings'  collection  is  said  to  contain  twenty-two 
thousand  species  and  varieties.  He  paid  for  some  small  rare  specimens 
one  hundred  dollars ;  for  a  Carinaria,  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars ; 
and  he  spoke  of  another  choice  specimen  purchased  by  himself,  or  some 
other  one,  at  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  His  collection  is  not 
arranged  in  cases  so  as  to  be  accessible  to  public  inspection,  but  is  in 
drawers,  so  as  to  require  much  time  and  patience  to  examine  it. 

I  was  much  indebted,  while  in  London,  to  the  kind  attentions  of  Dr. 
Gideon  Man  tell  and  Sir  Charles  Lyell.  The  former  treated  me  like  a 
brother,  although  I  had  no  special  claims  upon  his  services.  He 
showed  me  many  new  and  rare  things ;  among  which  were  gigantic 
Lizard  bones,  from  the  Wealden,  and  a  specimen  of  the  now  nearly 
extinct  bird  called  the  Apteryx,  of  New  Zealand.  It  had  no  wings, 
and  its  position  was  that  of  the  Penguin.  It  comes  nearer  in  character 
to  the  extinct  Dinornis  than  any  other  known  bird. 

Dr.  Mantell  also  presented  us  with  a  ticket  of  admission  to  the 
Botanic  Garden,  in  Regent's  Park.  This  is  open  only  to  subscribers, 
who  are  the  higher  classes,  (I  believe  not  including  the  nobility,)  of  Lon 
don.  It  was  promenade  day  when  we  went,  and  we  had  a  fine  oppor 
tunity  to  see  the  higher  classes  of  the  English  metropolis,  who  certainly 
formed  what  may  be  called  an  elegant  collection  of  gentlemen  and 


348  REMINISCENCES   OF  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

ladies.  But  the  plants  and  flowers  were  still  more  interesting.  In  the 
Conservatory  I  saw  several  of  those  living  tropical  species  that  throw 
light  on  those  dug  out  of  the  rocks,  such  as  the  Zamia,  the  Cycas 
Araucaria,  the  Date  Palm,  etc.  Beneath  a  large  tent  was  collected 
about  an  acre,  I  judged,  of  some  of  the  most  showy  American  shrubs, 
chiefly  the  Rhododendron,  Azalea  (white  and  pink,)  the  Kalmia,  etc., 
all  in  full  bloom.  They  were  brought  there  to  be  sold,  and  certainly 
formed  the  most  gorgeous  floral  exhibition  which  I  ever  saw. 

To  Sir  Charles  Lyell  I  was  indebted  for  a  ticket  to  dine  with  a  Club 
composed  of  members  of  the  London  Geological  Societv,  to  the  number 
of  about  fifteen.  The  dinner  was  at  six  o'clock,  after  which  was 
a  meeting  of  the  Society,  with  a  paper,  and  discussions.  In  such  cases 
English  scientific  men  appear  to  me  remarkable  for  two  things  ;  first 
for  the  frank  and  blunt  manner  in  which  they  advanced  their  peculiar 
views,  and  for  the  vigor,  and  even  sharpness,  with  which  they  comment 
upon  those  who  differ  from  them,  so  that  in  some  cases  I  suspected 
personal  hostility.  But  I  found  that  when  they  got  an  opportunity  to 
Bpeak  of  their  opponents,  personally,  they  were  so  copious  in  their 
commendations  that,  in  this  country,  we  should  call  it  flattery.  I 
wish  we  had  more  of  this  frank,  generous  English  manner,  in  the 
intercourse  of  our  scientific  men. 

After  the  geological  meeting,  Dr.  Mantell  introduced  us  into  the 
soiree  of  the  Royal  Society,  where  was  a  large  sprinkling  of  ladies  and 
the  Nepaul  Ambassador,  who  was  at  that  time  producing  considerable 
sensation  in  London,  but  who  appeared  to  me  about  as  much  out  of 
place  in  a  scientific  meeting  as  an  elephant  in  a  ladies  drawing-room. 
The  same  character  was  introduced  at  the  meeting  of  the  British  Asso 
ciation,  in  Edinburgh,  where  the  whole  proceedings  were  stopped  till 
he  and  his  train  could  be  escorted  by  an  epauletted  official  to  the 
platform,  where  he  sat  five  or  ten  minutes  and  then  stopped  the 
proceedings  till  he  could  pass  out. 

At  the  Royal  Society  we  were  shown  a  lock  of  Sir  Isaac  Newton's 
hair,  which  was  gray,  and  also  the  little  telescope  which  he  constructed, 
and  which  was  about  a  foot  long  and  two  or  three  inches  in  diameter. 

HOMERTON  COLLEGE. 

The  two  men  in  Europe  whom  I  felt  most  anxious  to  see, 
were  Professor  Buckland,  Dean  of  Westminster,  and  Dr.  J. 
Pye  Smith,  who  had  been  thirty  or  forty  years  at  the  head 
of  the  dissenters'  theological  college,  at  Homerton.  Dr.  Buck- 
land  I  found  to  be  in  an  insane  hospital,  and  Dr.  Smith  just 


DR.    J.    PYE   SMITH.  349 

about  to  resign  his  place  at  Homerton,  in  order  to  bring  that 
institution  with  Coward  and  High  Colleges  into  one,  which 
has  been  done,  under  the  name  of  New  College.  Dr.  Smith 
invited  me  to  be  present  at  the  last  anniversary  at  Ilomerton, 
when  he  resigned  his  place,  and  where  were  assembled  a 
goodly  number  of  the  Independent  ministers  and  laymen  of 
London.  I  was  gladly  there,  although  it  was  painful  to  see 
my  distinguished  friend  so  feeble ;  yet  it  was  gratifying  to  see 
in  his  prayers  and  remarks  so  much  of  the  spirit  of  heaven. 
I  had  formed  a  high  opinion  of  him  in  this  respect,  from  his 
correspondence,  and  I  had  an  opportunity  to  state  to  the  com 
pany,  when  they  called  on  me  for  remarks,  my  views  of  Dr. 
Smith,  without  the  usual  embarrassment  of  speaking  in  a 
man's  presence ;  for  he  was  so  deaf  that  he  could  not  hear  a 
word.  He  had  placed  me  on  his  right  hand  at  the  table,  and 
introduced  me  in  the  most  flattering  manner.  I  stated  to  the 
audience  what  it  was  that  interested  me  so  deeply  in  Dr. 
Smith.  I  had  preceded  him  in  discussing  the  connection 
between  geology  and  religion,  and  in  his  subsequent  able 
work  on  that  subject  he  had  quoted  largely  from  mine,  and 
with  unqualified  commendation.  Then  he  sent  me  a  copy  of 
his  work,  with  a  letter  beginning  thus  : — 

"  My  Dear  Sir, — Meditating,  at  some  time,  to  do  myself  the  honor 
of  addressing  a  letter  to  you  expressive  of  esteem  and  gratitude,  I 
begin  rather  bluntly,  but  from  the  fear  of  forgetting,  I  will  put 
down, 

"1.  The  writer  whom  you  mention  (Am.  Bib.  Repos.  No.  25,) 
is  not  Bishop  Gilbert  Burnct,  but  a  very  different  person,  Dr. 
Thomas  Burnct,  of  the  Charter  House. 

"  2.  In  your  excellent  Report,  Geology  of  Massachusetts,  second 
edition,  p.  395,  you  apparently  confound  Dr.  James  Hutton,  the 
Scottish  geologist,  with  Dr.  Charles  Hutton,  the  mathematician,  a 
native  of  Northumberland,  &c.*' 

Now,  said  I  to  myself,  how  few,  even  among  Christian  men, 
can  be  found  who  would  not  have  reversed  this  process,  and 
first  have  pointed  out  in  his  work  these  mistakes  made  by  a, 


350  REMINISCENCES  OF   AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

stranger,  and  then,  perhaps,  have  informed  me.  It  certainly 
indicates  not  only  high  Christian  attainment,  thus  to  forego 
an  opportunity  to  show  his  superior  knowledge,  but  a  most 
delicate  sense  of  propriety,  and  I  want  to  grasp  the  hand  of 
such  a  man ;  and  I  now  have  the  opportunity  to  state  to  his 
friends  this  noble  trait  in  his  character,  and  to  say  that  I  find 
him  in  all  respects  such  a  Christian  and  such  a  gentleman  as 
I  had  anticipated. 

I  might  have  stated,  though  I  did  not,  that  I  had  some 
apology  for  my  mistake  as  to  Bishop  Burnet,  in  the  fact  that 
we  have  in  Amherst  College  Library  a  copy  of  Burnet's 
Theory  of  the  Earth,  published  a  few  years  ago  in  London, 
whose  title  page  contains  the  name  of  Bishop  Burnet  as  the 
author,  and  I  followed  this  as  good  authority. 

MRS.  ELLIS'S  FEMALE  SCHOOL  AT  HODDSDOX. 
I  went  to  Hoddsdon,  about  twenty  miles  north  of  London, 
chiefly  to  see  a  training  school  there  which  is  somewhat 
devoted  to  agriculture.  But  finding  that  place  to  be  the  resi 
dence  of  Rev.  Mr.  Ellis  and  wife,  former  missionaries  to  Tahiti, 
and  now  to  Madagascar,  I  called  upon  them  chiefly  with  a 
view  to  learn  something  of  her  female  school  and  her  notions 
of  education.  They  treated  us  with  great  kindness,  and  Mrs. 
Ellis  took  us  to  Rawdon  House,  where  her  school  is  kept,  and 
which  is  a  large  and  elegant  mansion  with  groves  and  ponds 
around  it,  I  presume  the  former  private  residence  of  some 
wealthy  gentleman.  Of  course  expenses  are  high,  but  Mrs. 
Ellis  tries  to  teach  her  pupils  domestic  work,  and  she  seems  to 
have  correct  notions  on  this  subject,  but  thinks  it  necessary  in 
England  to  begin  with  an  establishment  more  expensive  than 
would  be  desirable,  otherwise  the  school  would  be  deserted 
by  the  respectable  classes.  Caste,  in  England,  exercises  a 
controlling  power,  and  cannot,  as  in  this  country,  be  neglected. 

AGRICULTURAL  SCHOOLS. 

I  had  seen  the  principal  sights  in  London  and  was  about 
starting  for  the  continent  when  I  received  from  the  govern- 


AGRICULTURAL  SCHOOLS.  351 

merit  of  Massachusetts  an  appointment  as  Agricultural  Com 
missioner,  with  the  request  that  I  would,  as  far  as  practi 
cable,  visit  the  agricultural  schools  of  Europe.  This  changed 
my  plan  of  travel  somewhat,  as  I  concluded  to  commence  my 
explorations  in  Great  Britain.  But  I  was  embarrassed, 
because  I  knew  neither  the  location  nor  character  of  these 
schools,  nor  where  to  look  for  the  information.  Sir  Charles 
Lyell,  however,  put  me  upon  a  track  that  afforded  me  light. 
He  introduced  me  to  Mr.  Pusey,  a  distinguished  agricul 
turist  from  Berkshire,  brother  of  the  Professor  Pusey  so  Avell 
known  in  the  theological  world.  He  was  a  member  of  Parlia 
ment,  and  was  then  residing  in  London.  He  invited  me  to 
dinner,  and  there  I  met  with  Hon.  William  Monsell,  member 
of  Parliament  from  Limerick,  in  Ireland,  who  could  inform 
me  as  to  the  schools  in  that  country,  and  with  Chevalier 
Bunsen,  Prussian  Minister  at  the  Court  of  St.  James,  who 
knew  about  the  German  schools.  Mr.  Pusey  could  give  an 
account  of  the  agricultural  schools  in  England,  though  I  found 
he  had  not  much  confidence  in  their  utility.  Mr.  Monsell 
could  tell  me  of  the  Irish  schools  and  Chevalier  Bunsen  knew 
where  they  might  be  found  in  Germany.  I  took  dinner  with 
Mr.  Pusey  Saturday  evening,  and  Mr.  Monsell  invited  me  to 
breakfast  on  Monday  morning,  when  he  gave  me  a  letter  to 
the  Right  Honorable  Alexander  Macdonald,  of  Dublin,  the 
superintendent  of  the  whole  system  of  schools  in  Ireland,  and 
to  some  other  leading  scientific  gentlemen,  so  that  I  had  free 
access  to  all  the  facilities  I  could  desire. 

On  my  return,  I  made  a  Report  to  the  government  upon 
the  agricultural  schools  of  Europe,  which  they  published  in 
a  pamphlet  of  one  hundred  and  five  pages.  I  then  gave  a 
list  of  three  hundred  and  fifty-two  schools,  with  a  detailed 
description  of  several,  especially  such  as  I  visited.  I  found 
them  of  various  grades,  the  three  most  important  of  which 
correspond  in  rank  to  colleges,  academies,  and  primary  schools. 
But  I  must  refer  to  my  Report  for  details,  for  want  of  room 


352  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

to  give  them  here,  except  the  following  list  of  their  number  in 
different  countries : — 

In  England, .         .         .  5  I  In  Mecklenburg  Schwerin, .       1 


Ireland,  .  .  .  .63 
Scotland,.  ...  2 
France,  .  ,  .  .75 
Italy,  .  .  .  .  2 
Belgium, ....  9 
Prussia,  .  .  .  .32 


Schleswig  Holstein,  .  4 
Anhault,  ....  2 
Hesse,  ....  2 
Weimar,  ....  1 
Nassau,  .  .  .  .1 
the  Electorate  of  Hesse,  .  1 


Austria,    .         ,        .        .     33  !       the  Grand  Duchy  of  Ba- 


"Wurtemberg,  ...  7 
Bavaria,  .  .  .  .35 
Saxony,  ....  5 
Brunswick,  ...  2 


den,  .       1 

Saxe  Meiningen,      .         .       1 
Russia,     .         .         .         .     G8 


I  spent  the  Sabbath  in  Cirencester,  in  England,  where  is  an 
agricultural  college,  and  had  a  little  opportunity  to  learn 
something  about  ecclesiastical  matters.  I  became  acquainted 
with  the  very  worthy  pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  could 
see  somewhat  against  what  difficulties  the  dissenters  have  to 
contend.  The  congregation  was  evidently  composed  mainly 
of  those  quite  poor,  and  I  should  judge  conscientious  too. 
For  the  overshadowing  Episcopal  Church  in  the  place  has 
$10,000  for  annual  distribution  among  the  poor,  but  it  would 
be  withheld  just  as  soon  as  a  poor  man  should  manifest  any 
sympathy  for  dissenting  views.  How  very  few,  with  depend 
ent  families  perhaps,  would  relinquish  this  charity  and  accept 
the  poverty  and  odium  of  attaching  themselves  to  a  Baptist  or 
Independent  Church !  One  fact  will  give  an  idea  of  the  pov 
erty  of  such  denominations.  The  Baptist  brother  invited  us 
to  partake  of  the  communion  with  his  church,  which  we  gladly 
accepted.  The  wine  was  distributed  on  a  common  japanned 
server  in  a  single  junk  bottle  with  two  tumblers. 

It  is  well  known  that  the  question  of  caste  in  most  Euro 
pean  countries  is  the  grand  obstacle  in  the  way  of  educational 
establishments,  that  embrace  all  classes,  as  do  ours  of  every 
grade  in  this  country.  Several  teachers  in  England  and 


INCIDENT   IN  SCOTLAND.  353 

France  confessed  to  me  that  their  efforts  to  overcome  the 
difficulty  had  been  unavailing.  The  truth  is,  with  few  excep 
tions,  that  the  lower  classes  are  not  allowed  to  learn  in  the 
schools  what  they  please,  and  go  as  far  as  they  can  ;  but  only 
such  subjects  as  the  higher  classes  consider  appropriate  to 
qualify  them  for  the  humble  sphere  they  are  expected  to 
occupy. 

I  met  with  an  incident  in  Scotland  which  it  may  not  be 
improper  to  name,  and  which  shows  that  even  in  that  enlight 
ened  country  this  feeling  about  educating  the  lower  classes 
exists,  and  it  shows,  too,  that  it  is  not  always  the  strongest 
among  the  nominally  aristocratic.  Being  at  a  soiree  at  the 
house  of  the  venerable  Professor  Jameson,  his  sister,  who  did 
the  honors  of  the  occasion,  her  brother  being  a  bachelor,  says 

to  me,  Countess wishes  an  introduction  to  you.     As 

soon  as  I  saw  her,  I  thought  to  myself  what  can  this  young 
and  accomplished  Countess  want  of  me,  an  awkward,  unpol 
ished  republican.  I  found  there  was  nothing  special,  only 
that  she  and  her  husband  sympathized  with  American  institu 
tions,  and  he  (whom  she  subsequently  introduced)  had  been 
there  more  than  once.  Soon  after,  Miss  Jameson  says,  Mrs. 
,  the  wife  of  one  of  our  barristers,  desires  an  introduc 
tion.  I  found  in  her  a  very  intellectual  and  accomplished 
lady.  As  she  inquired  about  my  journeyings,  I  said  that  I 
felt  more  at  home  in  Scotland  than  any  where  I  had  been, 
because  so  many  things  here  corresponded  to  those  in  New 
England.  Even  your  geology  has  a  close  resemblance  to 
ours ;  and  then  your  systems  of  religion  and  education  corre 
spond  essentially  to  ours.  You  here  extend  the  benefits  of 
education  to  all  classes,  as  we  do.  "•  I  know  we  do,"  said  she, 
"  but  I  do  not  like  it :  it  makes  our  servants  discontented  with 
their  condition,  and  they  would  be  much  better  without  so 
much  knowledge."  I  was  rather  surprised,  but  argued  the 
point  somewhat,  and  became  convinced  by  my  acquaintance 
with  the  two  ladies,  that  aristocratic  notions  are  not  always 
the  staunchest  in  connection  with  aristocratic  titles. 


354  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

At  Bonn,  on  the  Rhine,  where  is  an  agricultural  school, 
Professor  Reisin  offered  to  go  to  Poppclsdoif,  where  it  is 
situated,  and  interpret  for  me.  After  spending  an  hour  or  two 
in  asking  as  many  questions  as  I  wished,  we  returned,  and 
though  I  had  taken  up  nearly  half  a  day  of  his  time,  I  could 
not  persuade  him  to  accept  the  slightest  compensation. 

I  experienced  a  similar  kindness  from  Dr.  Guido  Sandber- 
ger,  at  Wiesbaden,  the  well  known  geologist  and  Professor  in 
the  Gymnasium.  He  went  with  me  on  foot  to  the  estate  of 
the  Duke  of  Nassau,  where  ah  agricultural  school  is  situated, 
and  aided  me  in  obtaining  all  the  information  I  needed. 

On  this  walk  I  noticed  a  custom  that  struck  me  pleasantly. 
As  we  passed  the  common  laborers  along  the  way,  the  Pro 
fessor  would  take  his  hat  entirely  from  his  head  and  offer 
the  most  cordial  greeting.  The  effect  seemed  to  me  to  be 
very  cheering  upon  the  laborers,  and  I  cannot  doubt  but  it 
contributes  much  to  cultivate  and  promote  that  kindness  of 
manner  and  that  good  natured  affability  that  constitute  such 
a  charm  in  German  society,  and  sometimes,  I  am  sorry  to  add, 
forms  the  sweet  pill  in  which  fatal  religious  error  is  received. 
But  I  do  wish  that  Americans  had  more  not  merely  of  the 
external  marks  of  kindness  for  their  fellows,  especially  for 
strangers,  of  the  Germans,  but  of  their  readiness  to  submit  to 
inconvenience  and  sacrifice  for  the  sake  of  helping  others.  I 
did  not  see  in  Germany  any  thing  of  that  selfishness  and  self- 
appropriating  spirit  which  is  so  disgustingly  prominent  on  our 
great  thoroughfares  in  this  country.  I  have  mentioned  two 
examples  of  a  generous  readiness  to  help ;  let  me  name  a  third 
which  I  fear  would  not  often  find  its  counterpart  in  this  country. 
I  sallied  forth  one  day  into  the  crooked  streets  of  the  city  of 
Frankfort  to  see  if  I  could  find  my  banker,  without  the  power 
of  using  the  German  language.  I  wrote  the  banker's  name 
upon  a  card,  and  meeting  a  well-dressed  gentleman,  I  la-Id 
the  card  before  him  and  made  a  motion  with  the  other 
hand,  which  made  him  understand  that  I  wanted  to  find 
the  banker's  residence.  He  turned  directly  about  and  made 


KINDNESS  TO   STRANGERS.  355 

a  motion  for  me  to  follow.  We  went  on  at  least  a  hundred, 
rods,  and  coming  against  the  banker's  office,  he  pointed  to 
it  and  with  a  bow  left  me. 

I  met  with  similar  kindness  in  some  other  European  coun 
tries,  different  from  any  experience  of  mine  in  this  country. 
In  France,  from  the  great  politeness  shown  to  one  often,  we 
should  expect  much.  But  I  confess  that  I  too  often  found, 
when  the  moment  came  in  which  help  was  needed,  your  polite 
friend  was  missing.  It  might  be  different  when  one  was 
regularly  introduced  and  was  known,  but  I  am  speaking  now 
of  cases  where  I  was  a  perfect  stranger.  In  Ireland  I  found 
very  much  of  generous  readiness  to  help,  and  I  must  say  that 
I  found  what  I  regard  as  more  perfect  examples  of  true  gentle 
men  and  ladies  among  the  higher  classes  in  that  country  than 
any  other.  On  the  public  conveyances,  even,  when  all  exter 
nal  circumstances  were  most  uncomfortable,  the  constant  ebul 
lition  of  Irish  wit  and  proffer  of  accommodation  cannot  but 
keep  one  good-natured.  I  had  on  one  occasion  been  waiting 
with  Mrs.  H.  at  a  hotel,  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  for  the  stage, 
which  would  just  reach  a  railroad  station  in  season  for  the 
cars.  I  noticed  a  well-dressed  gentlemen  also  waiting  for  the 
same  purpose.  But  when  the  stage  came,  there  was  only  one 
vacant  seat ;  yet  this  gentleman  said  to  me  that  if  I  could  in 
any  way  contrive  to  get  along  with  my  wife,  he  would  cheer 
fully  resign  all  his  right  to  the  seat.  How  very  likely,  in  this 
country,  a  man  would  be  to  consider  such  a  case  as  a  God 
send  for  his  benefit ! 

As  a  sample  of  Irish  energy  and  good  roads  and  fleet  horses, 
I  will  mention  that  on  this  occasion  I  found  myself  nineteen 
miles  from  the  railroad  station  and  rather  less  than  two  hours 
short  of  the  time  when  the  cars  would  start  for  Belfast,  whence 
I  had  hoped  that  evening  to  take  the  steamer  for  Glasgow.  I 
said  to  the  landlord,  if  I  give  you  an  extra  fee,  is  it  in  your 
power  to  get  myself  and  wife  to  the  station  in  time  ?  He 
dared  not  promise,  but  offered  to  try.  In  five  minutes  we 
were  mounted  on  an  Irish  car,  in  which  you  sit  facing  out- 


356  REMINISCENCES   OP  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

wards,  with  your  feet  over  the  wheels,  and  your  luggage  occu 
pies  the  body  of  the  vehicle,  and  behind  a  smart  black  pony 
we  were  spinning  away  over  a  macadamized  road  at  a  rapid 
rate.  We  soon  passed  the  stage,  and  reached  the  station 
several  minutes  before  the  end  of  the  two  hours,  and  the  horse 
was  uninjured. 

In  Glasgow  I  was  trying  to  find  the  residence  of  a  gentle 
man,  and  meeting  a  man  with  one  or  two  joiner's  tools  in  his 
hand,  1  made  inquiries.  He  turned  around  and  said  he  would 
guide  me,  nor  stopped  till  he  had  gone  out  of  his  way,  I  should 
think,  a  quarter  of  a  mile. 

If  such  generous  attention  to  inquiring  strangers  is  given  in 
our  cis-atlantic  cities,  I  can  only  say  it  has  never  fallen  under 
my  cognizance. 

MEETING  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION  FOR  THE  ADVANCE 
MENT  OF  SCIENCE. 

I  spent  a  week  very  delightfully  in  the  magnificent  city  of 
Edinburgh,  during  the  sessions  of  this  association. 

If  I  had  room  I  would  give  the  details  of  this  meeting,  as  I 
did  in  the  "New  York  Observer"  of  July  31st  and  August 
7th,  1850.  But  with  the  exception  of  one  or  two  items,  I 
must  omit  all. 

One  object  I  should  have  in  view  in  such  description  would 
be  to  suggest  to  any  of  my  countrymen  who  may  visit  Europe, 
and  have  any  scientific  tastes,  to  avail  themselves  of  the  privi 
lege  open  to  all  respectable  gentlemen  and  ladies  of  attending 
this  association,  which  meets  annually  in  different  cities  during 
the  summer.  There,  without  any  formal  introduction  by 
letter,  which  is  usually  a  heavy  infliction  upon  distinguished 
men,  you  can  become  personally  acquainted  with  as  many  as 
you  choose  of  the  most  distinguished  personages  in  the  learned 
world.  Such  men  at  home  are  fully  occupied,  but  here  they 
expect  to  be  lionized. 

I  remember  this  occasion  and  the  many  acquaintances  I 
there  formed,  with  deep  interest.  I  there  for  the  first  time 


BRITISH  ASSOCIATIONS.  357 

met  Hugh  Miller,  and  he  was  kind  enough  to  show  me  his  rich 
collection  of  fossil  fishes — the  same,  and  perhaps  in  the  same 
room,  in  which  not  long  afterwards  he  took  his  own  life. 

NUMBER  OP  MEMBERS. 

The  catalogue  published  on  "Wednesday,  July  31st,  and 
three  supplements  afterwards,  give  the  list  of  members,  either 
for  life,  or  for  a  year,  or  for  the  present  meeting : — 

Whole  number,     .         .         .         .    '     .         .1,225 
Of  whom  there  were  ladies,  .         .         .         .      274 
To  give  an  idea  of  the  classes  of  persons  belonging  to  this 
body,  I  have  taken  the  following  facts  from  the  catalogues  : — 

Of  the  nobility,  of  different  grades,  *  *  .  19 

Members   of    the   Royal   Society,  either  of 

London  or  Edinburgh,      .         .  .  .95 

With  the  title  of  LL.  D.,     .         .  .  - .  18 

With  that  of  D.  D.,      .         .  .       .  ...  17 

Professors  in  h'terary  institutions,  .  .  61 

Clergymen,        •  .                  .         .  .  .  97 

Medical  gentlemen,       .         .         .  .  .  104 

Foreigners,           ....         .  .  .  25 

From  the  United  States,       .         .  .  ...  10 

You  will  at  once  perceive  from  these  details,  what  a  fine 
opportunity  one  has,  by  attending  such  a  meeting,  to  see  and 
hear  distinguished  men,  whose  writings  have  excited  high 
respect.  I  think  this  perhaps  the  highest  gratification  afforded 
by  such  a  meeting. 

THE  MORAL  TONE  OF  THE  MEETING. 
If  there  were  room  I  would  give  some  samples  of  the  high 
moral  tone  of  Dr.  Brewster's  opening  address.  Equally 
decided  were  many  of  the  subsequent  speeches.  In  moving 
a  vote  of  thanks  to  Dr.  Mantell,  for  his  lecture  on  the  Great 
Birds  of  New  Zealand,  Dr.  Robinson  said  that  it  was  a 
sermon,  and  that  it  not  only  spoke  to  us  of  God,  but  of  the 


358  REMINISCENCES   OP  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

Redeemer ;  alluding,  I  suppose,  to  the  fact  that  the  discovery 
of  the  Dinornis,  (said  to  be  the  greatest  discovery  in  zoology 
made  during  the  present  century,)  was  the  result  of  missionary 
operations.  Dr.  Mantell  responded  very  happily  to  these 
allusions,  and  placed  moral  truth  immeasurably  above  science. 
I  do  not  believe  that  any  skeptical  allusion  would  have  been 
tolerated  for  a  moment.  Indeed,  the  high-toned  moral  senti 
ments  which  were  uttered,  received  a  hearty  response  from 
the  audience,  and  I  regard  this  feature  of  the  Association  as  its 
highest  glory.  I  could  have  wished  that  those  who  regard 
modern  science  as  almost  synonymous  with  skepticism  had 
been  present  to  see  how  the  most  eminent  savans  of  Great 
Britain  treated  that  subject.  And  here  it  occurs  to  me  to 
refer  to  the  fact,  that  nearly  one  hundred  clergymen  were 
present  at  the  meetings.  Indeed,  it  seemed  to  me  that  the 
most  talented  and  learned  members,  for  the  most  part,  were 
of  that  profession.  This  is  the  true  way  to  give  a  high  moral 
character  to  the  meetings.  Will  not  American  clergymen 
take  a  hint  from  these  facts  in  relation  to  the  similar  Associa 
tion  on  that  side  of  the  Atlantic,  which,  like  a  young  giant,  is 
rising  so  rapidly  in  size  and  strength  ?  It  ought  to  have  more 
clerical  members.  They  will  be  welcomed  by  the  scientific 
laymen  who  compose  that  body;  and  their  presence  and 
cooperation  will  do  much  to  remove  those  jealousies  and 
alienations  which  are  apt  to  grow  up  between  men  of  different 
pursuits,  who  rarely  come  into  contact  upon  common  ground. 
Let  our  clergymen  stand  aloof  from  that  Association,  and 
neglect  to  become  well  acquainted  with  the  subjects  there 
discussed,  and  they  will  be  very  likely  to  imagine  scientific 
men  to  be  the  secret  enemies  of  religion,  and  very  probably 
make  some  of  them  so.  But  a  different  course  will  show 
them  how  exaggerated  are  their  apprehensions,  and  that  a 
large,  proportion  of  our  men  of  science  respect,  if  they  do  not 
profess,  religion.  And  I  might  make  similar  remarks  to  pious 
and  intelligent  laymen  of  our  country.  Many  such,  in  this 
country,  not  familiar  with  the  details  of  science,  are  present 


PEACE   CONGRESS.  359 

at  these  meetings,  to  encourage  those  who  are  making  impor 
tant  scientific  investigations  ;  and  the  effect  is  very  happy. 

PEACE  CONGRESS  AT  FRANKFORT  ON  THE  MAINE. 

We  were  obliged  to  hurry  from  the  British  Association  in 
order  to  reach  the  continent  in  season  for  the  Peace  Congress 
in  Frankfort,  which  was  another  occasion  of  interest,  and 
although  I  had  never  formally  joined  any  peace  society  at 
home,  I  sympathized  with  the  object  aimed  at  by  such  associ 
ations,  and  was  requested  to  act  as  delegate  from  the  Massa 
chusetts  Society.  I  thought  it  a  rather  bold  stroke  of  policy 
to  hold  this  congress  so  far  in  the  interior  of  Germany,  even 
where  Austrian  bayonets  bore  rule,  and  it  seemed  to  me  that 
had  the  authorities  been  fully  aware  of  our  object  and  of  the 
doctrines  that  would  be  broached,  a  veto  would  have  been  put 
upon  our  proceedings. 

We  spent  the  Sabbath  in  Bonn,  and  the  next  day  being 
very  beautiful,  and  the  company  on  board  the  steamer  most 
agreeable,  we  had  a  most  delightful  sail  through  the  well 
known  romantic  scenery  of  the  Rhine,  which,  however,  Mr. 
Cobden  told  me  he  thought  inferior  to  that  of  the  Hudson, 
except  in  historical  monuments. 

This  was  about  the  time  when  Professor  Webster,  of  Cam 
bridge,  should  have  been  executed  for  the  murder  of  Dr. 
Park  man,  and  everywhere  I  found  a  deep  solicitude  as  to  the 
result.  The  intelligent  gentlemen  on  board  the  steamer  were 
full  of  inquiries  on  the  subject,  and  while  they  declared  that  his 
escape  would  have  a  most  disastrous  effect  in  Europe,  they 
expressed  much  fear  lest  one  so  high  in  place  as  Webster 
would  slip  the  halter,  and  they  hardly  believed  there  was 
virtue  enough  in  Massachusetts  to  compel  his  execution.  I 
told  them  that  I  knew  Webster  well,  and  also  knew  something 
of  Massachusetts  courts  and  public  opinion,  and  that  just  as 
surely  as  a  steamer  should  arrive  that  left  Boston  after  the 
first  of  August,  they  would  have  news  of  Webster's  execution. 
In  a  very  few  days  my  words  were  confirmed. 


360  REMINISCENCES   OP  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

Several  members  of  the  congress,  and  among  them  Mr. 
Cobden  and  Mr.  Smith,  members  of  the  English  Parliament, 
came  up  the  Rhine  with  us,  and  we  found  them  very  agreeable 
fellow  travellers.  They  seemed  conscious  that  the  movement 
is  regarded  by  most  of  the  higher  classes  as  quixotic,  and 
scarcely  raised  above  ridicule ;  yet  it  did  not  trouble  them. 
When  it  was  mentioned  that  this  and  that  respectable  man 
was  expected  to  be  present,  Mr.  Cobden  remarked  that  "when 
we  were  going  to  be  laughed  at,  it  was  pleasant  to  be  in  good 
company." 

Several  of  the  Professors  at  Bonn  University  were  also  on 
board,  as  well  as  the  Chevalier  Bunsen,  the  Prussian  Minister 
in  London,  so  well  known  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic  for  his 
literary  labors,  and  a  fine  example  of  a  genuine  gentleman. 
They  all  spoke  respectfully  of  the  object  of  the  congress,  but 
regarded  it  as  quite  impracticable  in  the  present  state  of  public 
opinion.  A  very  large  deputation  from  England  and  Scotland 
are  expected  to  arrive  to-night,  and  Mr.  Burritt  and  others 
have  gone  down  the  river  to-day  to  receive  them. 

I  had  written  out  a  somewhat  full  account  of  this  meeting, 
and  think  it  would  interest  my  readers,  but  like  the  account 
of  the  British  Scientific  Association,  it  must  be  omitted  for 
want  of  room. 

THE  VIEW  FROM  RIGI  CULM,  IN  SWITZERLAND. 
If  I  were  to  allow  myself,  without  restraint,  to  write  about 
the  scenery  and  geology  of  Switzerland,  I  hardly  know  when 
I  should  stop ;  for  this,  of  all  Europe,  was  my  favorite  field. 
In  geology,  my  almost  constant  soliloquy  was,  Eureka! 
Eureka!  and  as  to  scenery,  I  would  often  say,  "in  other 
parts  of  Europe  I  have  found  little  which  has  not  its  paral 
lel  in  North  America;  but  in  Switzerland  I  knock  under, 
and  give  myself  up  to  gazing  and  admiring.  But  I  must 
limit  myself  here  to  a  single  scene — to  a  view  I  got  from 
Rigi  Culm — which  I  fancy  few  are  so  fortunate  as  to  wit 
ness.  It  is  well  known  that  many  tourists  spend  the  good 


RIGI   CULM.  361 

part  of  a  day  in  reaching  this  summit,  where  they  spend 
the  night  in  the  hope  of  seeing  the  sun  rise  and  its  rosy 
light  reflected  from  the  overland  glaciers.  But,  alas,  how 
many  find  the  mountain,  6,000  feet  high,  enveloped  in  clouds, 
and  they  must  spend  another  half  day  in  getting  down  to 
Zug  or  Lucerne,  below,  with  a  feeling  of  great  disappoint 
ment.  I  should  think  that  on  the  29th  of  August,  1850, 
not  less  than  two  hundred  of  us,  of  all  nations  and  languages, 
stood  upon  the  Culm  before  sunrise,  enveloped  in  as  dense  a 
cloud  as  I  ever  saw,  and  with  the  almost  certain  prospect  of 
utterly  failing  in  our  object.  But  in  ten  minutes  that  cloud 
settled  down  so  as  to  bring  the  summit,  where  we  stood,  above 
it,  and  also,  at  a  few  miles  distant,  the  Bernese  glaciers,  ready 
to  throw  back  their  rosy  light  as  soon  as  the  sun  struck  them. 
And  in  a  few  minutes  it  did  strike  them  from  a  cloudless  sky, 
and  we  were  in  the  midst  of  the  most  unearthly  scene  that  I 
ever  witnessed,  as  we  stood  above,  the  top  of  the  cloud  that 
filled  all  the  valleys  of  Switzerland,  and  I  felt  an  almost  irre 
sistible  desire  to  launch  forth  on  its  fleecy  undulations,  so  like 
celestial  scenery  did  it  seem.  But  soon  the  vapor  began  to 
give  way  here  and  there,  and  open  vistas  into  the  regions 
below.  Here  and  there  a  lake,  a  romantic  mountain,  a  city, 
or  some  spot  of  deep  historic  interest  (Zug  and  Lucerne,  the 
Rossberg,  TelPs  Chapel,  &c.)  would  be  disclosed,  and  alter 
nately  concealed,  until  at  length  almost  all  Switzerland  lay 
beneath  your  feet.  It  was  enough.  I  never  had  witnessed 
such  a  scene  before  and  never  expect  to  witness  another. 
That  on  Snowdon  was  similar,  but  far  inferior. 

And  here  I  would  record  with  gratitude,  that  though  I  have 
visited  many  mountains  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic,  I  never 
yet  failed  to  get  a  good  view  from  their  summit.  In  those 
cases  where  the  weather  seemed  most  unfavorable  at  first,  it 
served  only  to  heighten  the^  ultimate  effect.  Certainly  I  have 
been  peculiarly  favored  in  this  respect. 

I  would  gladly  go  into  the  details  of  our  experience  in  the 
region  of  Mont  Blanc,  where  Alpine  scenery  culminates. 
16 


6\J'2  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHEBST   COLLEGE. 

Were  I  writing  only  for  geologists,  I  certainly  should  tell 
them  how  deeply  interested  I  was  in  the  phenomena  of  gla 
ciers,  and  the  marks  of  their  former  wide  extension,  both 
horizontally  and  vertically,  and  also  of  the  vast  plications  of 
the  solid  strata.  But  I  must  not  become  prolix  on  such 
themes.  Nor  shall  I  further  prolong  my  account  of  trans 
atlantic  scenes. 

KINDNESS  OF  PROVIDENCE. 

I  cannot  close  without  adverting  to  the  kind  Providence 
that  carried  me  and  my  companion  safely  through  all  our 
wanderings,  and  made  them  instrumental  of  a  gradual  invigo- 
ration  of  health  that  continued  for  many  years.  But  I  feel 
constrained  also,  from  a  sense  of  obligation  to  God  and  man, 
and  I  cannot  feel  it  to  be  improper  to  mention  what  has 
seemed  to  be  a  special  Providence  in  regard  to  pecuniary 
means.  It  was  certainly  as  unexpected  as  a  miracle,  though 
not  a  miracle. 

When  deliberating  about  a  foreign  tour,  with  Mrs.  Hitch 
cock  to  accompany  me,  (and  every-body  said  I  must  not  go 
alone  as  my  health  was,)  I  felt  not  a  little  embarrassed  in  view 
of  the  large  expenses  that  must  be  incurred,  and  I  knew  of 
no  quarter  from  which  I  might  hope  for  any  assistance.  But 
ere  long  John  Tappan  generously  offered  to  pay  our  passage 
($240)  across  the  Atlantic.  On  our  voyage  myself  and  wife 
became  acquainted  with  Hon.  Jonathan  Phillips.  Just  before 
reaching  Liverpool  he  said  to  Mr.  Tappan,  "  Where  is  Mr. 
Hitchcock  going  when  he  lands  ?  "  "  To  London,  I  suppose," 
was  the  reply.  **  Would  he  not  like  to  see  something  of  the 
geology  of  England  ?  "  was  his  farther  inquiry.  "  Doubtless 
he  would,"  was  the  reply.  "  Take  him  then,"  said  Mr.  Phillips, 
"and  go  where  you  think  best,  and  send  the  bills  to  me." 
Accordingly,  when  in  Liverpool,  l^Ir.  Tappan  proposed  to  me 
to  make  an  excursion  into  Wales,  on  our  way  to  London,  not, 
however,  informing  me  of  Mr.  Phillips'  offer.  I  accepted 
because  that  is  classic  ground  in  geology.  But  after  a  few 


JONATHAN  PHILLIPS.  363 

days  spent  there,  I  told  Mr.  Tappan  that  neither  my  time  nor 
funds  would  allow  me  to  stay  much  longer.  He  then  told  me 
with  what  commission  he  was  charged,  and  advised  me  to 
give  myself  up  for  a  time  to  his  guidance,  which  I  did,  and 
the  result  was,  that  before  we  got  to  London,  through  Bristol, 
Bath,  Southampton,  and  the  Isle  of  Wight,  I  had  had  a  chance 
to  give  a  hasty  glance  at  most  of  the  rock  formations  of  Eng 
land  ;  the  Silurian,  Devonian,  Trias,  Oolite,  Lias,  Wealden, 
Cretacous,  and  Tertiary,  and  the  trip  was  very  delightful.  It 
extended  to  about  five  hundred  miles,  and  my  expenses  were 
$166,  which  Mr.  Phillips  paid. 

Another  God-send  was  my  commission  to  examine  the  agri 
cultural  schools.  I  succeeded  in  making  a  report  that  met  the 
approbation  of  the  government,  and  they  voted  me  a  thousand 
dollars  for  my  expenses.  On  reaching  home  Hon.  Samuel 
Williston  presented  me  with  one  hundred  dollars.  I  had  thus 
received  $1,506  which  I  had  not  the  slightest  reason  to  expect 
when  I  started,  and  it  did  not  fall  so  much  as  $200  short  of 
the  whole  expenses  of  myself  and  wife  during  our  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty-eight  days  of  absence.  The  irreligious  man  will 
say  this  was  good  luck ;  what  name  the  technical  theologian 
may  give  to  it  I  know  not ;  but  I  recognize  it  as  the  special 
providence  of  a  merciful  God. 

GEOLOGICAL  SURVEYS. 

Since  these  surveys  have  entered  largely  into  my  experi 
ence  for  more  than  thirty  years,  and  I  have  prosecuted  them 
without  relinquishing  my  place  in  the  College,  a  brief  history 
of  my  connection  with  them  may  seem  desirable. 

I  was  conversant  with  the  earliest  efforts  in  this  country  to 
get  up  geological  survey's.  The  appointment  of  Amos  Eaton 
to  survey  the  route  of  the  Erie  Canal,  by  Hon.  Stephen  Van 
Rensselaer,  was,  I  believe,  the  earliest  example.  He  made 
his  first  Report  in '1824.  In  1834,  another  edition  was  pub 
lished,  to  which  Mr.  Eaton  added  a  section  by  myself,  although 


364  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

it  was  never  intended  for  publication,  but  merely  to  aid  him 
by  some  imperfect  notes. 

North  Carolina  was  the  first  State  in  our  country  that 
ordered  a  survey,  and  the  Reports  by  Professor  Denison 
Olmsted  were  published  in  a  pamphlet  form  in  1824  and 
1825.  In  a  review  of  this  Report  in  the  American  Journal 
of  Science,  I  tried  to  induce  legislators  in  other  States  to 
follow  this  example,  but  in  vain.  Years  passed  and  the 
subject  seemed  to  have  been  forgotten. 

In  1830,  being  upon  a  journey  to  the  coal  regions  of  Penn 
sylvania,  and  stopping  in  Hartford,  I  saw  by  the  papers  that 
Governor  Lincoln  had  recommended  to  the  legislature  of 
Massachusetts  a  trigonometrical  survey  of  the  State.  I  at 
once  addressed  him,  urging  the  importance  of  connecting  with 
it  a  geological  survey.  On  my  return  I  found  the  suggestion 
adopted,  and  a  commission  soon  reached  me  as  surveyor.  I 
accepted  the  place  on  condition  that  I  might  so  husband  my 
time  as  to  allow  me  still  to  perform  my  duties  in  College.  I 
made  my  first  Report  in  1832,  in  a  pamphlet  of  seventy 
pages,  on  the  Economical  Geology  of  the  State,  with  a  geo 
logical  map.  In  1833,  I  made  a  full  Report  on  the  whole 
subject,  in  a  volume  of  seven  hundred  and  two  pages,  with  an 
atlas  of  plates  and  a  geological  map ;  of  which  a  second  edition 
was  ordered  to  be  printed  in  1834. 

I  was  aware  that  these  reports  were  very  imperfect,  and 
that  several  years  more  should  be  devoted  to  exploration. 
But  as  this  was  the  first  attempt  in  any  of  the  Northern 
States  to  carry  through  a  geological  survey,  and  as  I  knew 
that  legislators  are  always  anxious  to  have  their  servants 
prosecute  and  carry  through  their  plans  with  energy  and 
dispatch,  I  thought  it  best  to  present  them  with  the  prelimi 
naries  of  a  survey,  rather  than  one  complete,  lest  the  work 
should  be  stopped  and  a  prejudice  excited  against  all  future 
surveys.  In  this  I  succeeded  ,•  for  the  other  States  have  been 
following  the  lead  of  Massachusetts  ever  since,  until  nearly  all 
of  them  have  instituted  surveys,  and  some  of  them  with  mag- 


GEOLOGICAL  SURVEYS.  365 

nificent  results.  The  government  of  New  York  consulted  me 
in  the  plan  of  their  survey  and  I  recommended  essentially 
that  which  was  adopted,  viz.,  to  form  independent  districts, 
under  distinct  heads,  rather  than  to  place  one  geologist  at 
the  head  of  the  whole.  I  was  requested  to  take  charge  of 
one  of  these  districts,  and  finally  consented,  and  with  Pro 
fessor  Adams  as  assistant,  commenced  the  work  in  Duchess 
County.  But  reflection  and  a  poor  state  of  health  led  me 
to  resign  my  post.  I  confess,  also,  that  I  had  some  hope 
that  Massachusetts  might  yet  call  me  again  into  the  field, 
to  review  and  carry  forward  the  survey  there,  and  in  this  I 
was  not  disappointed.  Governor  Marcy's  commission  for  the 
New  York  survey  bore  date  June  13th,  1836.  As  soon  as 
released  from  that  State,  I  addressed  a  letter  to  Governor 
Everett,  who  was  then  in  the  chair,  setting  forth  the  impor 
tance  of  a  further  prosecution  of  at  least  some  parts  of  the 
survey.  His  recommendation  carried  the  measure  with  the 
legislature,  and  on  the  25th  of  May,  1837,  I  received  a  new 
commission.  A  liberal  interpretation  of  it  enabled  me  to 
extend  my  attention  to  every  part  of  the  survey,  and  for  three 
or  four  years  I  prosecuted  the  work  of  reexamination  with 
greater  vigor  than  formerly.  In  1838, 1  brought  out  a  Report 
on  the  Economical  Geology,  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-nine 
pages,  and  in  1841,  a  Final  Report,  in  two  quarto  volumes, 
of  three  hundred  and  five  hundred  and  forty-four  pages,  with 
fifty-six  plates  and  two  hundred  and  eighty-two  wood  cuts. 
In  the  first  survey  I  was  obliged  to  report  on  the  Zoology  and 
Botany,  as  well  as  the  Geology,  but  in  the  re-survey,  the 
former  were  committed  to  several  able  naturalists,  who  made 
separate  and  valuable  reports. 

In  the  year  1851  or  1852  I  made  another  suggestion  to  the 
government  of  the  State.  I  had  been  for  several  years  study 
ing  surface  geology,  and  having  been  somewhat  aided  by  the 
Smithsonian  Institution,  I  made  a  report  to  them  which  they 
subsequently  published.  I  found  this  kind  of  research,  more 
over,  very  favorable  to  health,  as  it  did  not  demand  the  use 


366  REMINISCENCES  OP  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

of  the  hammer,  but  only  of  the  barometer  and  levelling  instru 
ments.  I  therefore  proposed  to  the  government  that  if  they 
would  bear  my  necessary  expenses  in  a  very  simple  way  of 
travelling,  I  would  explore  the  surface  geology  of  the  State 
without  charge.  The  legislature  accepted  my  offer,  and  voted 
in  their  session  of  1852  to  appropriate  $500  to  this  object.  I 
have  not  expended  much  more  than  half  this  sum  up  to  the 
present  time,  yet  I  have  made  two  reports  which  have  been 
published.  But  they  have  not  much  connection  with  surface 
geology.  For  I  obtained  permission  from  the  governor  and 
council  to  use  some  of  the  money  in  researches  somewhat 
different.  The  first  report  was  a  pamphlet  of  forty-four  pages, 
four  plates,  and  numerous  wood  cuts  "illustrating  certain 
points  in  the  geology  of  Massachusetts."  The  first  point  was 
the  coal  field  of  Bristol  County ;  the  second  on  the  geological 
age  and  position  of  the  brown  hematite  iron  ore  of  Berkshire 
County,  and  the  third  on  the  marks  of  ancient  glaciers  in 
Massachusetts. 

My  second  report  was  on  the  ichnology  of  New  England, 
the  result  of  more  than  twenty  years  of  study  into  an  intensely 
interesting  but  most  difficult  subject.  I  distinctly  informed  the 
government  that  the  matter  was  purely  one  of  science  rather 
than  of  economical  benefit,  that  I  made  no  charge  for  my 
report  or  labors,  and  if  they  chose  to  publish  it  I  should  be 
glad.  They  voted  to  do  so  even  without  reading  my  manu 
script,  at  an  expense  of  some  $4,000  or  $5,000.  Is  there 
another  State  in  the  Union  where  mere  science  would  thus  be 
patronized?  My  report  was  published  in  1858,  in  a  quarto 
of  two  hundred  and  twenty  pages,  with  sixty  plates,  a  hundred 
copies  of  which  the  legislature  generously  voted  to  present  to 
me.  Its  style  of  execution  was  such  as  to  elicit  commendation 
from  European  reviewers  and  naturalists. 

I  had  now  reached  that  period  in  life,  and  was  borne  down 
by  so  many  severe  infirmities,  that  all  desire  to  have  any  thing 
to  do  with  another  State  survey  was  gone.  But  in  1856  I 
was  strongly  urged  to  take  hold  as  principal  of  the  survey  of 


SURVEY   OF   VERMONT.  367 

Vermont.  Its  history  had  been  a  melancholy  one.  It  was 
started  twelve  years  before;  but  three  principals  had  been 
successively  smitten  down  by  death,  and  I  could  not  but 
confess  to  a  sort  of  superstitious  fear  that  if  I  took  the  post  I 
should  be  the  fourth  before  the  completion  of  such  a  work.  I 
found,  however,  that  I  should  be  allowed  to  bring  in  my  two 
sons  as  assistants,  and  I  accepted.  My  assistants  executed 
most  of  the  field  work,  and  my  youngest  son  also  most  of  the 
maps  and  sections  of  the  report,  and  though  obliged  to  close 
the  work  when  only  half  done,  because  the  legislature  starved 
us  out,  we  did  bring  out  a  report  of  nearly  a  thousand  quarto 
pages,  in  two  volumes,  with  thirty-eight  plates  and  two  hun 
dred  and  eighty-nine  wood  cuts,  and  containing  a  vast  amount 
of  facts,  so  that  in  a  revie%  of  the  work  in  the  "American  Jour 
nal  of  Science"  for  May,  1862,  by  Mr.  Billings,  paleontologist 
of  the  Canada  survey,  it  is  said :  "  Upon  the  whole,  we  look 
upon  this  Report  as  one  of  the  best  that  has  been  published 
on  this  continent."  I  did  not  expect  such  a  compliment  from 
so  competent  a  judge ;  yet  for  all  this  work  of  four  or 
live  years,  I  never  received  as  much  as  six  hundred  dollars 
besides  my  expenses. 

It  will  be  seen  that,  whether  wisely  or  not,  geological 
surveys  have  occupied  no  inconsiderable  portion  of  the  active 
period  of  my  life.  Though  interesting,  they  have  been  labo 
rious,  both  to  body  and  mind,  and  brought  upon  me  heavy 
responsibility.  I  cannot  doubt  that  they  have  done  good  to 
the  public,  by  awakening  a  spirit  of  inquiry,  discouraging 
unreasonable  explorations  and  expectations,  opening  some  new 
channels  of  enterprise,  and  bringing  to  light  not  a  few  new 
scientific  facts.  The  survey  in  Massachusetts  doubtless  led  the 
way  for  the  many  others  that  followed,  not  merely  chrono 
logically,  but  by  the  force  of  example.  Upon  the  whole,  the 
influence  upon  my  health  has  been  salutary,  yet  this  remark 
should  be  confined  to  the  field  work ;  for  the  preparation  of 
the  reports  has  certainly  been  a  weariness  to  the  flesh.  And 
after  I  had  got  out  my  first  general  report  on  Massachusetts, 


368  REMINISCENCES  OF  AMHERST  COLLEGE. 

I  suffered  for  months  an  almost  total  prostration  of  the  nervous 
system,  which  quiet  only  could  cure ;  and  subsequent  reports 
have  always  severely  taxed  my  powers  of  endurance.  But 
upon  the  whole,  life  has  probably  been  lengthened  by  so  much 
out-door,  exhilarating  exercise. 

SECRETARYSHIP  OF  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  BOARD  OF  AGRI 
CULTURE. 

After  I  had  returned  from  Europe  I  continued  for  some 
years  to  act  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Agriculture,  and 
at  length,  without  any  encouragement  from  me,  they  appointed 
me  permanent  Secretary,  and  urged  my  acceptance  strongly. 
Pecuniarily,  I  should  receive  two  or  three  times  my  salary  at 
Amherst,  but,  though  I  always  felt  an  interest  in  the  scientific 
relations  of  that  subject,  and  felt  it  to  be  important  to  the 
welfare  of  society,  the  great  objects  and  pursuits  of  my  life 
had  been  in  other  fields,  and  I  did  not  wish  to  change  now, 
especially  as  agriculture  has  no  necessary  bearing  upon 
religion.  I  felt  that  Amherst  was  my  field  for  what  remain 
ing  services  I  could  render,  and  I  declined  the  appointment. 
It  would  have  been  a  great  mistake,  had  I  been  tempted  by  a 
high  salary  or  a  prospective  residence  in  Boston,  to  accept. 

ASSOCIATION    OF    GEOLOGISTS    AND    NATURALISTS,   AND 

THE  AMERICAN  ASSOCIATION   FOR   THE   ADVANCEMENT 

OF  SCIENCE. 

These  are  one  and  the  same  Association,  only  with  dif 
ferent  degrees  of  expansion,  and  my  relations  to  it  from  the 
very  beginning  seem  to  require  me  to  dwell  a  little  upon  its 
history. 

Those  of  us  who  had  been  for  years  engaged  in  prosecuting 
the  State  geological  surveys,  in  widely  separated  districts,  had 
long  felt  the  need  of  meeting  to  compare  notes,  and  try  to 
reduce  American  geology  to  some  uniform  system.  After 
some  preliminary  correspondence,  the  gentlemen  engaged  in 
the  New  York  survey  issued  an  invitation  to  their  confreres 


AMERICAN   SCIENTIFIC  ASSOCIATION.  369 

of  the  State  surveys  to  meet  them  in  Philadelphia,  April  2d, 
1840.  The  following  gentlemen  responded  to  the  call.  I 
quote  here  from  the  published  proceedings  : — 

"  Edward  Hitchcock,  Amherst,  Massachusetts ;  Lewis  C. 
Beck,  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey ;  Henry  D.  Rogers,  Phil 
adelphia  ;  Lardner  Vanuxem,  Bristol,  Pennsylvania  ;  William 
W.  Mather,  Brooklyn,  Connecticut ;  "Walter  R.  Johnson  and 
Timothy  A.  Conrad,  Philadelphia;  Ebenezer  Emmons  and 
James  Hall,  Albany,  New  York ;  Charles  B.  Trego,  James  C. 
Booth,  M.  H.  Boye,  R.  E.  Rogers  and  Alexander  McKinley, 
Philadelphia ;  C.  B.  Hayden,  Smithfield,  Virginia ;  Richard 
C.  Taylor,  Philadelphia ;  Douglass  Houghton  and  Bela 
Hubbard,  Michigan." 

"  Prof.  Hitchcock  was  appointed  Chairman,  and  Prof.  L.  C. 
Beck,  Secretary." 

It  was  then  unanimously  resolved  to  organize  an  Associa 
tion,  to  be  called  "  THE  ASSOCIATION  OP  AMERICAN  GEOLO 
GISTS." 

We  spent  several  days  together  agreeably  and  profitably, 
not  in  the  formal  presentation  of  many  papers,  but  in  the 
discussion  of  various  points  in  geology,  as  they  had  presented 
themselves  in  our  various  fields.  It  will  be  seen,  however, 
that  the  names  of  some  are  in  the  above  list  who  were  never 
engaged  in  the  State  surveys.  We  resolved  to  try  to  bring  in 
more  of  such.  We  added  the  word  "Naturalists"  to  our 
name,  and  appointed  Prof.  B.  Silliman,  although  never  con 
nected  with  a  State  survey,  Chairman  of  the  next  meeting,  and 
we  meant  it  to  be  understood  that  we  should  be  happy  to  have 
any  scientific  man  join  us  at  the  next  meeting,  which  we  ap 
pointed  the  following  year  in  Philadelphia.  We  began  in  fact 
to  cherish  the  hope  that  the  Association  might  gradually  and 
quietly  expand  so  as  to  embrace  all  the  sciences,  and  so 
become  an  American  association  for  the  advancement  of 
science,  and  so  our  proceedings  were  modelled  after  the  great 
European  associations  of  this  kind.  We  knew  that  not  long 
before  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences  at  Bos- 
16* 


870  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

ton  had  requested  the  American  Philosophical  Society  of 
Philadelphia,  because  that  was  the  oldest  society  of  the  kind 
in  the  land,  to  take  the  responsibility  of  appointing  such  a 
meeting.  But  they  refused,  lest  it  should  prove  a  failure. 
It  ill  became  us,  therefore,  to  announce  any  such  intention, 
but  our  desire  and  ambition  were  to  accomplish  the  object 
without  saying  much  about  it,  and  the  result  shows  that  we 
succeeded.  Our  numbers  and  influence  continued  to  increase 
at  each  successive  meeting.  The  third  one  was  held  at 
Boston,  and  soon  the  cities  vied  with  one  another  in  giving  us 
invitations  to  hold  our  meetings  in  them,  and  in  1848  wre  for 
mally  adopted  the  name  of  the  American  Association  for  the 
Advancement  of  Science.  This  has  continued  to  expand  and 
flourish,  though  temporarily  checked  by  the  war  that  is  now 
upon  us. 

It  may  not  be  of  much  consequence  who  first  threw  out  the  sugges 
tion  that  led  to  the  formation  of  this  Association,  but  as  a  matter 
of  history  the  question  has  some  interest.  I  had  never  thought  of 
claiming  the  honor  for  myself.  But  my  friend,  Prof.  "W.  "NV.  Mather, 
undertook  to  do  it  for  me,  because  he  thought  that  honor  had  been 
unjustly  assigned  to  another.  A  few  extracts  from  his  letters  to  me 
as  they  appeared  in  the  Tenth  Annual  Report  of  the  Regents  of  the 
University  of  New  York,  will  show  the  ground  he  takes. 

"  Prof.  Hitchcock,  Dear  Sir  :  I  received,  a  few  days  since,  the  Pro 
ceedings  of  the  American  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science, 
first  meeting,  held  in  Philadelphia,  Sept.  1848;  and  in  it,  page  91,  I 
found  a  letter  from  Prof.  Hall,  and  observed  with  some  surprise 
the  latter  part  of  the  sentence  of  the  second  paragraph,  (relating  to 
Prof.  Vanuxem,)  viz.:  «and  to  whom  is  due,  above  all  others,  the 
honor  of  being  the  first  man  to  propose  such  an  organization.'  Now 
I  do  not  wish  to  detract  at  all  from  the  merit  due  to  Prof.  Vanuxem  ; 
and  perhaps  Prof.  Hall  made  the  representation  from  memory  only, 
or  from  hearsay,  on  the  spur  of  the  occasion ;  but  that  which  belongs 
to  the  history  of  the  Association  of  American  Geologists  ought,  if 
stated  where  it  will  be  referred  to,  to  be  stated  accurately.  You  know 
that  he  was  not  the  first  to  propose  such  an  organization  in  1838. 

"In  1837,  I  received  a  letter  from  you  on  this  subject;  but  it  is 
lost,  or  I  do  not  find  it  on  my  file  of  letters. 


WHO   FIRST  PROPOSED  IT?  871 

"  On  the  12th  of  October,  1838,  you  wrote  me  at  Albany,  and  the 
letter  was  forwarded  and  reached  me  at  Newburgh,  in  which  you  say : 
'  And  I  had  also  hoped  that  ere  this  a  meeting  of  American  Geologists 
would  be  brought  about  in  New  York  or  Philadelphia ;  but  I  feel  that 
I  am  to  be  disappointed  in  this  also.' 

"  On  the  26th  of  October,  1838,  the  day  I  received  your  letter  at 
Newburgh,  I  answered  it,  and  said :  « It  gives  me  much  pleasure  to 
see  you  express  a  wish  to  compare  notes  with  others  in  relation  to 
geological  observations.  I  think  it  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  there 
is  not  greater  harmony  of  feeling,  unity  of  action,  and  interchange  of 
opinions  and  observations  among  our  geologists.'  As  I  had  to  go  west 
before  the  meeting  of  the  Geological  Board  of  New  York,  and  which  you 
had  been  invited  by  me  and  perhaps  others  to  attend,  I  wrote  to  the 
Board  some  suggestions  that  seemed  to  me  important,  as  follows :" 
(Then  follows  the  letter.  Prof.  Mather  closes  his  letter  to  me,  with 
the  following :) 

"  You,  so  far  as  I  know,  first  suggested  the  matter  of  such  an  asso 
ciation.  I  laid  the  matter  before  the  Board  of  Geologists  of  New- York, 
specifying  some  of  the  advantages  that  might  be  expected  to  result ; 
and  Prof.  Vanuxem  probably  made  the  motion  before  the  Board  in 
regard  to  it,  which  may  have  been  all  that  Prof.  Hall  knew  about  it. 

' '  We  can  each  of  us  well  dispense  with  the  honor  that  might  be 
awarded  for  originating  the  matter  in  one  case,  and  putting  in  train 
for  execution  in  the  other :  still,  where  the  origin  of  an  important 
society  and  association  of  scientific  men  for  the  advancement  of 
science  is  recorded  in  its  memoirs  as  historical  fact,  it  ought  to  be 
stated  correctly" 

It  is  true,  as  suggested  by  Prof.  Mather  above,  that  for  years  before 
1840,  I  had  been  in  the  habit,  in  my  correspondence  with  scientific 
men,  of  suggesting  how  desirable  it  was  to  have  an  annual  meeting  of 
scientific  men  in  this  country  as  in  Europe.  Indeed,  it  became  with  me 
a  sort  of  hobby.  But  I  did  not  know  but  that  others  had  done  the 
same,  and  did  not  therefore  lay  claim  to  the  credit  of  being  the  origi 
nator  of  the  meeting  that  was  ultimately  got  up,  nor  am  I  very  anxious 
about  the  matter  now,  less  so  probably  than  would  be  my  children 
and  friends. 

I  have  attended  nearly  all  the  meetings  of  the  Association  for  more 
than  twenty  years,  and  have  always  been  treated  personally  with  much 
kindness,  nor  have  I  taken  much  interest  in  several  minor  issues  that 
have  produced  considerable  discussion  and  alienation  of  feeling  among 
members.  But  I  do  feel  constrained  to  leave  on  record  my  views  as 
to  the  manner  in  which  the  original  Association  of  Geologists  and 


372  REMINISCENCES    OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

Naturalists  has  been  treated  by  the  American  Association  for  the 
Advancement  of  Science.  It  is  clear,  from  the  statements  that  have 
been  made,  that  the  two  are  just  as  much  connected  as  the  roots  and 
trunk  of  a  tree,  or  the  tributaries  and  main  stream  of  a  river.  Yet  in 
the  published  Proceedings  of  the  Association  for  the  Advancement  of 
Science,  the  entire  Association  is  represented  as  commencing  in  1848, 
and  the  Association  of  Geologists  and  Naturalists  which  had  held  eight 
annual  meetings,  is  ignored,  except  that  the  names  of  those  persons 
who  formed  the  Association  of  Geologists  and  Naturalists  are  printed 
in  capitals,  and  even  this  slight  recognition  is  discontinued  in  the  last 
volume  of  Proceedings.  A  table  of  the  meetings  of  the  Association 
since  1848,  is  given  with  the  names  of  the  Presidents,  Secretaries,  and 
Treasurers,  with  no  allusion  to  those  of  previous  meetings,  and  the 
meetings  bear  date  from  1848,  instead  of  1840.  This  was  not  probably 
done  by  vote  of  the  Association ;  for  I  do  not  believe  it  was  ever 
laid  before  them,  but  by  the  Standing  Committee,  who  have  almost 
unlimited  powers. 

Now  why  is  this  attempt  to  strike  out  of  existence  the  first  eight 
years  of  the  Association,  unless  it  be  that  the  records  of  those  eight 
years  would  disgrace  the  body  which  succeeded  in  1848  ?  The  general 
course  of  organization  and  proceedings,  as  we  have  seen,  has  been 
essentially  the  same  from  the  first  as  it  now  is,  modified  only  to  adapt 
it  to  increasing  numbers,  such,  for  instance,  as  the  division  of  the 
meetings  into  a  greater  number  of  Sections.  But  from  the  very  first, 
or  certainly  the  second  year,  the  reading  of  papers  with  subsequent 
remarks  has  been  the  chief  business.  The  grades  of  officers  has  been 
the  same  essentially,  viz. :  a  President,  Secretaries,  Treasurer,  and 
Standing  and  Local  Committees.  We  have  always  had  more  than  one 
social  gathering,  generally  at  the  residence  of  some  liberal  citizen  of 
the  cities  where  we  met,  where  we  had  opportunity  for  personal 
acquaintance.  The  retiring  President  has,  from  the  first,  been  expected 
to  give  an  Address  on  the  Progress  of  Science,  and  it  was  done  as  gen 
erally  before  as  since  1848.  The  following  table  will  show  who  were 
officers  and  who  delivered  addresses  before  that  time. 


SCIENTIFIC    ASSOCIATION. 


373 


PLACE. 

President. 

Addresses. 

Secretaries. 

1—  Philadelphia, 
2—  Philadelphia, 

3  —  Boston, 

1840—  Edward  Hitchcock,  . 
1841—  Benjamin  Silliman,  . 
i  S19  1  George  Morton,   .     ) 
842  i  John  Locke,    .    .    j 
H  D  Rogers 

1841,  .  . 
1842,  .  . 

1844 

L.  C.Beek. 

U                 U 

C.  T.  Jackson. 

BSillimin    Tr 

5  —  Washington, 

John  Locke,      

B.  Silliman. 

G  —  New  Haven, 

William  B.  Rogers    .     .    . 

O.  Hubbard. 
B.  Silliman,  Jr. 

7—  New  York,    . 

C.  T.  Jackson,  

I.  L.  Smith. 

8—  Boston, 

(  Amos  Binnev,    .    .     .     ) 
i  William  B.  Rogers,    .    { 

.  .  .  . 

T.  Wyman. 

As  to  the  publication  of  Proceedings,  the  Association  in  1842  brought 
out  a  volume  (mainly  through  the  liberality  of  Hon.  Nathan  Appleton,) 
of  five  hundred  and  forty-four  pages  and  twenty-one  plates,  containing 
the  Proceedings  and  Transactions  of  the  first  three  meetings,  which,  as 
to  typographical  execution  is  superior  to  any  thing  since  published. 
As  to  the  number  of  members,  though  only  eighteen  at  the  first 
meeting,  at  the  third  they  had  increased  to  seventy-seven. 

Now  was  it  generous,  was  it  just,  thus  to  endeavor  to  cover  up 
these  eight  years  of  the  successful  labors  of  this  Association,  and  to 
convey  the  impression  that  nothing  worthy  the  name  existed  prior  to 
1848 — as  if  ashamed  of  its  parentage.  For  it  is  certainly  true,  however 
homely  our  labors,  that  we  did  succeed  in  accomplishing  what  the 
men  who  are  supposed  to  stand  at  the  head  of  American  Science  did 
not  dare  attempt,  viz. :  to  establish  and  bring  into  full  operation  the 
American  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science.  Setting  aside 
my  own,  are  the  names  in  the  above  table  such  in  the  annals  of  Amer 
ican  Science  that  it  would  be  disgraceful  to  acknowledge  them  as 
pioneers  in  such  an  enterprise.  So  palpable  is  the  injustice  that  if  I 
had  not  felt  a  strong  aversion  to  introduce  a  subject  into  the  Asso 
ciation  that  would  have  awakened  discussion  and  alienation,  I  certainly 
should  have  done  it.  For  I  do  not  believe  that  the  Association,  as  a 
body,  would  ever  sanction  such  a  course.  But  let  it  pass  now  :  I 
must  do  so.  Yet  history  will  place  the  whole  transaction  in  its  true 
light,  on  her  impartial  tablet,  and  full  justice  will  then  be  awarded  to 
the  Association  of  American  Geologists  and  Naturalists. 

CONTROVERSY  RESPECTING  THE  FOSSIL  FOOTMARKS. 
It  has  ever  been  an  object  of  strong  desire  and  effort,  with  me,  to 
conduct  my  controversies  in  such  spirit  and  language  as  not  only  to 
preserve  a  conscience  void  of  offence  towards  all,  but  in  the  end  to 


374  REMINISCENCES  OF  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

conciliate  all  reasonable  men  and  convert  even  my  personal  opponents 
into  real  steadfast  friends.  And  I  have  succeeded  in  every  case  save 
that  of  the  Fossil  Footmarks,  which  I  think  has  left  lasting  prejudices 
in  some  minds  against  me,  and  a  feeling  as  if  I  had  claimed  what  did 
not  belong  to  me.  Having  argued  this  point  fairly  and  fully,  I  have 
often  felt  as  if  I  wished  an  impartial  jury  could  be  found  to  sit  upon 
the  question.  Providence,  it  seems  to  me,  has  furnished  such  a  jury 
who  have  given  their  opinion  without  any  solicitation  or  suggestion  on 
my  part.  Four  of  the  jurors  are  eminent  European  savans  whose 
geographical  position  removed  them  from  all  local  influences  and 
prejudices.  One  is  Rev.  Adam  Sedgwick,  Professor  of  Geology  in  the 
University  of  Cambridge,  in  England  ;  another  is  Prof.  "W.  Haidinger, 
Director  of  the  Imperial  Geological  Survey  of  Austria ;  a  third  is 
Prof.  Richard  Owen,  the  eminent  English  Paleontologist ;  a  fourth  is 
Rev.  John  Duns,  D.D.,  F.R.  S.E.,  late  editor  of  the  North  British 
Review ;  the  fifth  is  Prof.  S.  S.  Haldeman,  of  Columbia,  in  Pennsyl 
vania,  whose  location  places  him  also  (four  or  five  hundred  miles  dis 
tant)  almost  as  completely  beyond  the  reach  of  local  influences  and 
prejudices,  and  with  whom  I  have  never,  to  this  day,  exchanged  one 
word  on  this  subject ;  but  after  the  discussion  had  closed  I  received 
from  him  the  following  able  and  interesting  letter,  which  carries  great 
weight  with  it,  both  from  the  great  strength  of  its  argument  and  the 
eminent  character  of  its  author  as  a  Naturalist. 

"  CHICQUESALTJRGA,  near  Columbia,  Pa.,  19th  Dec.,  1844. 

"Dear  Sir : — I  have  read  the  discussion  in  the  American  Journal  of 
Science,  vol.  47,  p.  381,  between  Dr.  Deane  and  yourself,  respecting 
the  priority  of  claim  to  the  discovery  of  Fossil  Footmarks,  and  wish 
to  trouble  you  with  a  few  remarks  upon  it. 

"  It  appears  to  me  that  Dr.  Deane  is  disposed  to  lay  too  much 
stress  upon  the  mere  discovery  of  these  interesting  relics,  and  to  a 
certain  extent,  without  reference  to  the  scientific  investigation  of  them ; 
although  their  actual  present  value  has  arisen  from  the  deductions 
which  you  are  able  to  make. 

"  It  is  a  simple  matter  to  lay  claim  to  an  important  discovery  after 
it  has  been^demonstrated;  but  the  merit  of  the  demonstration  itself 
rests  upon  a  very  different  basis  from  that  of  such  a  claim.  If  the 
Ichnolites  had  been  hastily  announced  as  bird  tracks,  and  had  they 
subsequently  proved  to  be  mere  uniform  concretions,  the  writer  of  the 
first  announcement  would  not  probably  display  much  anxiety  if  his 
early  views  should  not  be  brought  forward  very  conspicuously ;  not 
withstanding  the  toleration  with  which  colaborers  are  generally  inclined 
to  regard  errors. 


PROF.  HALDEMAN'S  VIEWS.  375 

"I  have  heard  a  Conch ologist  remark,  upon  seeing  the  figure  of  a 
newly  described  shell,  that  he  had  had  the  species  a  long  time,  and 
'thought'  or  'knew'  it  to  be  undescribed;  yet  there  was  no  merit  in 
the  supposition.  In  the  case  of  Dr.  Deane,  his  own  conviction  of  the 
novelty  of  his  discovery  appears  to  have  depended  upon  his  corresDon- 
dence  with  yourself.  I  have  seen  a  newspaper  paragraph  credited  to 
the  Canajoharie  Radii,  announcing  the  discovery  of  a  fossil  '  horse-foot.' 
Now,  is  the  writer  of  this  paragraph  to  have  any  more  credit  for  the 
announcement  as  it  stands,  than  if  he  had  asserted  the  object  to  be 
something  ' like'  a  ' horse-foot,'  whether  it  might  prove  to  be  a  fossil 
Limulus,  Buckland  Bridgw.  Treatise,  pi.  45,  f.  1,  (vulgarly  called 
« horse-foot ')  a  true  equine  hoof,  or  the  internal  cast  of  a  molluscous 
bivalve  shell  ? 

"It  could  have  been  no  easy  task  at  an  early  day,  to  demonstrate 
the  remains  of  Ammonites  not  to  be  'serpents,'  or  Trilobites  'toads,' 
or  pseudomorphous  mineral  forms,  genuine  crystals.  If  a  first  unsup 
ported  announcement  is  to  bear  the  principal  honors,  modern  geologists 
are  working  in  vain  ;  for  there  is  scarcely  a  philosophical  deduction  or 
demonstrated  truth  which  cannot  be  found  among  the  cosmogonic 
crudities  of  the  last  century.  Dr.  Franklin's  discovery  belongs  to  the 
same  category ;  the  identity  of  electricity  and  lightning  having  been 
previously  'known'  as  positively  as  impressed  bird- tracks  could  be. 

"I  do  not  wish  to  overlook  the  fact  that  Dr.  Deane  insists  upon  his 
early  assertion  as  to  the  nature  of  the  tracks  in  question.  This,  however, 
I  conceive,  can  have  no  possible  bearing  upon  the  question.  How 
could  he,  or  any  one  else  at  that  time  Jcnoio  that  these  impressions  and 
casts  were  not  the  floats  or  vesicles  of  a  genus  of  plants  allied  to  the 
recent  oceanic  Fucus  ?  Had  they  been  such,  we  could  account  for  their 
regular  disposition  as  to  distance  and  direction.  Mr.  T.  A.  Conrad, 
whose  skill  in  paleontology  will  be  admitted,  takes  this  view  of  the 
subject.  Speaking  of  the  fucoids  he  remarks  that  '  some  of  them  have 
been  of  a  fibrous  reticulated  structure,  having  vesicular  appendages, 
often  lobed  and  imitating  on  the  sand-stones  the  forms  of  tracks  of 
reptiles  and  birds  which  some  writers  have  believed  them  to  be.  On 
plate  26,  in  Buckland's  Bridgewater  Treatise,  the  foot-shaped  vesicular 
fucoids  may  be  seen  attached  to  the  network,  and  no  doubt  they  per 
formed  the  office  of  floats  to  support  the  fibrous  structure  to  which 
they  were  appended.' — New  Geological  Survey,  1839,  p.  GO. 

"Who  can  wonder  that  an  observer  should  adopt  this  rational  con 
clusion,  upon  viewing  the  plate  in  question,  and  particularly  figure  1, 
t,  o,  b,  e  •  and  others,  if  we  allow  the  slender  reticulations  to  have  been 
washed  away  ?  Yet  the  Cheirotherium,  which  was  concerned  in  making 


376  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

these  prints,  has  been  discovered,  and   the  subsequent  discovery  of 
Dinornis  removes  the  remaining  vestiges  of  doubt. 

'•One  or  two  more  illustrations  will  suffice.  In  1835,  during  the 
voyage  of  the  ship  Beagle,  an  aquatic  saurian  was  discovered,  and 
subsequently  described  under  the  name  of  AMBLYRHYNCHUS  CRISTATUS, 
by  Mr.  Bell.  Dr.  Mitchill  had  however  received  it  through  Commodore 
Porter  nearly  twenty  years  previously,  and  made  some  remarks  on  it, 
which  appeared  in  print,  but  I  cannot  now  give  the  reference.  He  did 
not,  however,  venture  to  describe  this  singular  animal,  probably  because 
he  was  not  quite  certain  whether  or  not  it  had  attracted  the  attention  of 
European  naturalists ;  and  had  he  communicated  specimens  to  Mr. 
Bell,  might  have  complained  of  the  latter  appropriating  HIS  discovery 
in  describing  the  animal. 

"In  Loudon's  Magazine  of  Natural  History,  vol.  via.  p.  261,  Mr. 
Hailstone  says :  « I  send  a  description  of  two  crabs  which  I  have  found 
upon  this  coast ;  and,  if  you  can  inform  me  whether  they  are  undescribed 
I  shall  be  obliged '  ;  and  on  p.  264,  « should  any  of  the  species  repre 
sented  in  the  specimens  sent  prove  to  be  known  ones,  I  shall  be  glad 
to  receive  their  names,  and  a  reference  to  the  book  in  which  they  are 
described.'  The  specimens  alluded  to  were  referred  by  the  editor  to 
Mr  Westwood,  who  made  extensive  notes  upon  them,  and  applied  two 
new -specific  names.  This  proceeding  brought  forth  the  following: 
«  .  .  .  .  Having  been  fortunate  enough  to  discover  and  describe  the  ani 
mals  in  question,  I  think  I  am  at  liberty  to  claim  the  insertion  of  trivial 
names  which  seem  to  me  more  adapted  to  them.'  The  editor  (p.  395) 
then  makes  an  apology  for  not  having  given  Mr.  Hailstone  an  oppor 
tunity  to  apply  his  names.  « Had  Mr.  Hailstone  hinted  a  wish,  or  had 
Mr.  Westwood,  when  he  kindly  undertook  the  farther  identification  of 
the  forms  of  Crustacea  which  Mr.  Hailstone  had  described  .  .  .  Mr. 
Westwood  would,  we  are  certain,  have  left  the  opportunity  open.'  To 
this  Mr.  Westwood  replies  (p.  325)  «...  I  do  not  admit,  so  far  as 
principle  is  concerned,  (although  Mr.  Hailstone  is  perfectly  welcome  to 
the  imposition  of  the  names  of  the  animals  in  question,)  that  he  is  at 
liberty  to  claim  the  insertion  of  fresh  trivial  names  .  .  .  because, 
although  he  caught  and  described  the  animals,  yet  the  trouble  of  ascer 
taining  whether  they  had  been  previously  described  by  crustaceologists 
or  not  was  mine :  and  every  naturalist  is  aware  that  this  is  a  greater 
task  than  the  mere  describing  of  an  animal.  Unquestionably,  therefore, 
as  the  manuscripts  were  placed  in  my  hands  in  an  imperfect  state  (so 
far  as  the  absence  of  identification  and  denomination,  which  are  the 
points  in  question)  without  the  slightest  intimation  that  Mr.  Hailstone 
wished  the  subject  to  be  again  laid  before  him  in  case  the  species  are 


PROFS.   8EDGWICK  AND   HATDINGER.  37T 

undescribed,  I  had  the  right,  in  order  to  render  the  paper  complete,  to 
apply  a  specific  name.' 

"Mr.  "Westwood  undoubtedly  takes  the  proper  view  in  the  last  case, 
•which  is  much  more  pointed  than  your  own.  I  had  intended  to  allude 
to  several  minor  points  in  the  discussion,  but  as  you  have  not  alluded 
to  them,  they  may  not  have  been  considered — and  probably  are  not — 
worthy  of  special  note." 

The  following  opinion  of  Professor  Sedgwick,  was  given  unsolicited 
in  a  letter  thanking  me  for  a  copy  of  my  Ichnology. 

41  Whatever  may  hereafter  be  made  of  some  of  the  anomalous  and 
perhaps  somewhat  doubtful  foot-traces  in  your  American  rocks,  no 
one  can  ever  deprive  you  of  the  honor  of  having  been  a  great  leader 
and  discoverer,  in  a  new  and  important  branch  of  paleontology.  Most 
of  your  determinations  will,  I  doubt  not,  stand  good  :  and  independent 
of  any  points  of  doubt,  I  may  ask,  what  should  we  have  known  of  these 
strange  paleontological  puzzles,  if  you  had  not  made  us  acquainted 
with  them,  and  devoted  so  much  precious  labor  on  their  elucidation? 

'•LONDON,  Sept.  9,  1859." 

Professor  Haidinger  gave  his  opinion  under  precisely  the  same 
circumstances. 

"I  laid  it,  (your  Report  on  the  Fossil  Footmarks  of  the  Connecticut 
Sandstone,)  before  our  public,  in  a  meeting  of  the  Imperial  Geological 
Institute.  It  well  deserts  to  be  regarded  as  a  monument  of  patient 
and  unremitting  scientific  inquiry,  in  one  of  the  most  enigmatic  depart 
ments  of  Zoology  as  well  as  Geology,  and  in  which  your  labors  have 
given  us  the  most  comprehensive  general  views,  as  well  as  single 
observations.  But  the  work  is  also  a  monument  for  the  fairness  of 
your  claims  as  the  real  scientific  investigator  of  this  most  interesting 
subject,  which,  for  any  thing  others  had  done,  might  still  be  unex 
plored,  had  you  not  taken  it  in  your  hand,  and  unremittingly  worked 
at  it !  So  we  are  all  bound  to  do  you  proper  homage." 

'•VIENNA,  Dec.  19,  1859." 

The  following  is  Professor  Owen's  account  of  this  discovery  in  his 
Paleontology  : — 

"Dr.  Deane  and  Mr.  Marsh  of  Greenfield,  United  States,  first 
noticed  in  1835,  impressions  resembling  the  feet  of  birds,  in  the  sand 
stone  rocks  near  that  town.  Dr.  Hitchcock,  President  of  Amherst 
College,  United  States,  whose  attention  was  called  to  these  impres 
sions,  first  made  public  the  fact,  and  submitted  to  a  scientific  ordeal 


378  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

his  interpretations  of  these  impressions,  as  having  been  produced  by 
the  feet  of  living  birds ;  and  he  gave  them  the  name  of  Ornithicnites. 

"  It  was  a  startling  announcement,  and  a  conclusion  that  must  have 
had  strong  evidence  to  support  it,  since  one  of  the  kinds  of  the  tracks 
had  been  made  by  a  pair  of  feet  each  leaving  a  print  twenty  inches 
in  length.  Under  this  term  Ornithicnites  Giganteus,  however,  Dr. 
Hitchcock  did  not  shrink- from  announcing  to  the  geological  world  the 
fact  of  the  existence  during  the  period  of  the  deposition  of  the  red 
sandstones  of  the  Valley  of  the  Connecticut,  of  a  bird  which  must 
have  been  at  least  four  times  larger  than  the  ostrich." 

Dr.  Duns'  opinion  is  contained  in  his  review  of  my  Ichnology  in 
the  North  British  Review.  There  was  no  necessity  that  either  of 
these  gentlemen  should  touch  the  question  of  this  controversy,  nor 
was  there  the  slightest  intimation  made  to  them  that  it  was  desired. 
"  Professor  Hitchcock,"  says  Dr.  Duns,  "  has  not,  however,  been  per 
mitted  to  bear  away  his  laurels  without  other  hands  making  an 
attempt  to  grasp  them.  The  experience  which  might  almost  be  said  to 
be  common  to  all  who  strike  out  new  thoughts,  or  bend  their  energies 
into  new  paths,  has  been  his.  Rival  claims  to  priority  in  scientifically 
investigating  and  describing  the  footprints  have  been  made.  The  con 
troversy  is  one  which  admits  of  an  easy  settlement ;  and  after  study 
ing  it  without  bias,  we  have  not  the  least  doubt  but  that  in  the  pages 
devoted  to  it  in  the  present  Report,  Dr.  Hitchcock  has  settled  it.  Dr. 
Deane  had  accidentally  found  some  specimens  of  tracks  '  lying  upon 
the  side- ways  at  Greenfield,'  and  had  informed  the  author,  who  com 
missioned  the  finder  to  purchase  them  for  him.  They  fell  under  the 
eye  of  science  when  Dr.  Hitchcock  obtained  them.  Had  they  been 
left  to  Dr.  Deane  alone,  they  would  have  been  lying  on  the  '  side 
ways  '  still.  Professor  Hitchcock  set  to  work  at  once,  and  for  six 
years,  during  all  which  time  Dr.  Deane  was  silent,  he  worked  con 
stantly  at  the  footprints.  Professor  Hitchcock  claims  to  have  been 
1  the  first  to  investigate  and  describe  them  as  a  matter  of  science. 
The  claim,  we  beg  to  assure  him,  was  long  ago  admitted  by  British 
naturalists.  The  opinion  of  Professor  Owen,  which  we  have  quoted 
above,  should  be  decisive  on  this  point." 

LIST  OF  MY  PUBLICATIONS. 

It  would  leave  but  an  imperfect  impression  of  my  labors  if 
I  were  to  give  no  account  of  the  amount  of  my  publications ; 
for  with  such  a  constitution  as  mine,  the  composition  and 
printing  of  books  is  far  more  trying  to  health  than  the  most 


PUBLICATIONS.  379 

active  labors  in  the  field,  and  in  giving  instruction  in  College. 
I  never  yet  completed  a  book  without  finding  my  health  a 
good  deal,  and  sometimes  quite  seriously  impaired. 

Most  of  the  works  and  papers  which  I  have  published  have 
been  brought  out  during  my  connection  with  the  College. 
But  to  make  the  list  as  complete  as  possible,  I  shall  put  down 
all  I  can  recollect  that  were  printed  at  an  earlier  date.  Some 
of  these  were  indeed  juvenile  productions,  extremely  defective 
and  abounding  in  errors  of  taste,  but  I  am  not  ashamed  of  the 
leading  thoughts,  and  believe  they  are  all  favorable  to  morality 
and  religion. 

A 

I.   RELIGIOUS   VOLUMES,    SINGLE    SERMONS,   ESSAYS,    ADDRESSES 
AND  TRACTS. 

1.  A  Wreath  for  the  Tomb.     12mo.    250  pages.     1839.     A  second 
Edition  in  1842.     A  London  Edition  in  1842,  with  an  Introduction 
by  Dr.  J.  Pye  Smith.     Jackson  and  Walworth. 

2.  Religious  Lectures  on  Peculiar  Phenomena  in  the  Four  Sea 
sons,  with  three  Plates.     12mo.    143  pages.     Second  Edition  in  1851. 
Third  Edition  in  1861,  with  additions  ;  176  pages.     A  London  Edition 
without  date.     James  Blackwood. 

3.  Religion  of  Geology  and  its  connected  Sciences.     12mo.     511 
pages.     1851.     A  second  Edition,  enlarged  to  592  pages.     1859. 
One  8vo.  and  one  12mo.  Edition  in  London,  in  1851.     Another  Lon 
don  12mo.  Edition  in  1855.     Another  London  Edition  with  additions, 
in  1859.     James  Blackwood. 

4.  Religious  Truth  illustrated  from  Science.     12mo.     422  pages. 
1857. 

5.  An  Exhibition  of  Unitarianism.     35  pages.     1824. 

Essays. 

G.  Did  Christ  advance  any  New  Moral  Precepts  ?  Christian  Spec 
tator,  Vol.  1,  p.  397.  2  1-2  pages. 

7.  General   Survey  of  the  Works  of  God.     Christian  Spectator, 
Vol.  4,  p.  337.     7  pages. 

8.  Influence   of  Nervous   Diseases  upon  Religious   Experience. 
Christian  Spectator,  Vol.  9,  p.  177.     29  pages. 

9.  On  Pulpit  Exchanges  between  the  Orthodox  and  Unitarians. 
Spirit  of  the  Pilgrims  for  1828.     34  pages. 

10.  On  the  Connection  between  Geology  and  Natural  Religion. 
Biblical  Repository  for  January,  1835.     27  pages. 


880  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

11.  On  the  connection  between  Geology  and  Revelation.    Biblical 
Repository,  April  and  October,  1835.     8G  pages. 

12.  On  the  Historical  and  Geological  Deluges.     Biblical  Reposi 
tory,  January  and  October,  1837,  and  January,  1838.     127  pages. 
The   above  three  articles  were  republished  in  Edinburgh,  in  the 
Biblical  Cabinet. 

Addresses. 

13.  Importance  of  an  Early  Consecration  to  the  Missionary  Work. 
Before  the  Society  of  Inquiry  in  Amherst  College.     Published  in 
the  Christian  Spectator,  Vol.  10,  p.  573.     10  pages. 

14.  The   Highest  Use   of  Learning .     Inaugural    Address   when 
inducted  into  the  Presidency  of  Amherst  College,  April,  1845.     45 
pages. 

15.  Relations  and  Mutual  Duties  between  the  Philosopher  and  the 
Theologian,  before  the  Porter  Rhetorical  Society  in  Andover  Theo 
logical  Seminary,  in  1852.     45  pages.     Bibliotheca  Sacra,  1853. 

1C.  Special  Divine  Interpositions  in  Nature,  before  the  Theologi 
cal  Seminaries  of  Bangor  and  Newton,  in  1853.  34  pages.  Bibli 
otheca  Sacra  for  October,  1854. 

17.  A   Chapter  in  the  Book   of  Providence,  before  the  Mount 
Holyoke  Seminary,  in  1849.     42  pages. 

18.  The  Waste  of  Mind  ;  before  the  same,  in  1842.     46  pages. 

19.  The  Cross  in  Nature,  and  Nature  in  the  Cross ;  Bibliotheca 
Sacra  for  April,  1SG1.    35  pages.    Delivered  as  a  Lecture  at  Amherst, 
Montreal,  Troy,  N.  Y.,  &c. 

20.  The  Law  of  Nature's  Constancy  Subordinate  to  the  Higher 
Law  of  Change  ;  Bibliotheca  Sacra  for  July,  18G3,  72  pages.     Also, 
as  a  separate  volume.     I  shall  not  probably  live  to  see  its  publication, 
but  as  it  is  essentially  prepared,  I  trust  it  will  appear  when  I  am  gone. 

21.  Charge  to  Dr.   Stearns  at  his  Installation  over  the  College 
Church,  Nov.  21st,  1854.     8  pages. 

22.  Valedictory  Address  on  leaving  the  Presidency  of  Amherst 
College,  Nov.  23d,  1854.     27  pages. 

Single  Sermon*. 

23.  Utility  of  Natural  History.     32  pages.     Delivered  before  the 
Berkshire  Medical  Institution  at  Pittsfield,  in  1823. 

24.  Retrospection.     24  pages.     Delivered  in  Amherst  College,  in 
1823. 

25.  Four  Sermons  on  Diet,  £c.,  published  in  the  National  Preach 
er.     44  pages.     A  fifth  was  prepared  but  never  published. 

26.  The  Sun  going  down  at  noon.     At  the  funeral  of  the  wife  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Lord,  of  Williamsburg,  Thanksgiving  Day,  1829.    19  pages. 


SERMONS.  381 

27.  The  Minister's  Rule  of  Duty.    At  the  Ordination  of  Rev. 
Flavel  Griswold,  at- South  Hadley  Falls,  in  1828.    31  pages. 

28.  The  Coronation  of  Winter,  in  1845.     Published  at  the  request 
of  the  Students  of  Amherst  College  and  Mount  Holyoke  Seminary. 
A  second  Edition  was  published. 

29.  The  Inseparable  Trio.    An  Election  Sermon  preached  before 
Governor  Briggs,  Jan.  2d,  1850.     45  pages. 

30.  Sermon  at  the  Funeral  of  Rev.  Dr.  Packard,  of  Shelburne. 
23  pages. 

31.  Sermon  at  the  Funeral  of  Mrs.  Dr.  Woodbridge,  of  Hadley. 
15  pages. 

32.  The    United    States    a    commissioned    Missionary    Nation. 
Preached  in  Amherst  College,  and  published  by  the   Society  of 
Inquiry. 

33.  The  Catalytic  Power  of  the  Gospel.     Preached  before  the 
Massachusetts   Home  Missionary   Society,   at   its   Anniversary  in 
Boston,  in  May,  1852.     32  pages. 

34.  The  Religious  Bearings  of  Man's  Creation.     Preached  before 
the  Massachusetts  Convention  of  Congregational  Ministers  in  Brat 
tle  Street,  Boston,  May,  1854.     Also  as  an  Address  before  the  The 
ological  Society  of  Dartmouth  College.     Also  preached  in  Conway, 
Mass.,  Brooklyn  and  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  Milwaukie,  Wis.,  and  Dr. 
Sprague's  Church,  in  Albany,  at  the  time  of  the  meeting  of  the 
American  Scientific  Association,  by  whose  Local  Committee  it  was 
published.     31  pages. 

35.  Extract  from  my  Farewell  Sermon  at  Conway,  in  the  Christian 
Spectator,  Vol.  8,  p.  120.   £  pages. 

Newspaper  Articles. 

3G.  Account  of  Revivals  in  Mount  Holyoke  Seminary.     Hamp 
shire  and  Franklin  Express,  for  May,  1846,  New  York  Observer,  &c. 

37.  Revival   of  Religion  in  Amherst  College.     Hampshire   and 
Franklin  Express,  April  30th,  1846. 

38.  Revival  in  1850.     Hampshire  and  Franklin  Express,  April 
19th,  1850. 

39.  Revival  in  the   College  in  1850.    Hampshire  and  Franklin 
Express,  April  19th,  1850. 

Tracts,  (published  by  the  American  Tract  Society,  N.  Y.) 

40.  Cars  Ready.     1848.     4  pages. 

41.  The  Blind  Slave  in  the  Mines.     1848.     4  pages. 

42.  Murderers  of  Fathers,  and  Murderers  of  Mothers.     12  pages. 


382  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHEBST   COLLEGE. 

II.     WORKS  ON  TEMPERANCE. 

1.  Dyspepsy  Forestalled  and  Resisted.     Lectures  to  the  Students 
of  Amherst  College.     8vo.   360  pages,  in  1830.     Second  Edition  in 
1831,  enlarged  to  452  pages. 

2.  Prize  Essay  on  Temperance,  it  being  the  Fourth  of  the  Lectures 
in  the  above  work.     The  prize  of  $50  was  offered  in  Boston,  and 
awarded  to  me.     Two  Editions  were  published  in  1830. 

3.  Argument  for  Early  Temperance,  addressed  to  the  Youth  of 
the  United  States.     This  is  the  Prize  Essay,  altered  and  enlarged. 
18mo.    89  pages.     Reprinted  in  London. 

4.  History  of  a  Zoological  Temperance  Convention,  held  in  Cen 
tral  Africa,  in  1847.     Printed  in  1850.     160  pages,   12mo.,  with  13 
plates  and  16  figures.     Second  Edition  in  1855. 

5.  Argument  against  the  Manufacture  and  Sale  of  Ardent  Spirits. 
24  pages.     Published  as  a  Tract  by  the  American  Tract  Society  in 
New  York. 

6.  Analysis  of  Wines  from  Palestine  and  Syria,  and  of  American 
Cider.     American  Journal  of  Science,  Vol.  46,  p.  249,    10  pages. 

III.    BIOGRAPHIES. 

1.  The  Power  of  Christian  Benevolence  illustrated  in  the  Life 
and  Labors  of  Mary  Lyon.     1  vol.,  12mo.     486  pages,  of  which  I 
wrote  200  pages.     1852. 

2.  Obituary  Notice  of  Mrs.  Prof.  W.   C.  Fowler.    New  York 
Observer. 

3.  Some  Account  of  the  last  hours  of  Prof.  N.  W.  Fiske.    Hamp 
shire  and  Franklin  Express. 

IV.    SCIENTIFIC  VOLUMES  AND  PAMPHLETS. 

1.  Geology  of  the  Connecticut.     8vo.    154  pages,  2  plates  and  11 
figures,  1823.     Appeared  first  in  the  American  Journal  of  Science. 

2.  First  Report  on  the  Economical  Geology  of  Massachusetts. 
70  pages  and  a  Geological  Map.     1832. 

3.  Report  on  a  Re-examination  of  the  Economical  Geology  of 
Massachusetts.     139  pages.     1838. 

4.  Report  on  the  Geology,  Botany  and  Zoology  of  Massachusetts, 
in  1833.     692  pages.     Second  Edition  enlarged,  ordered  by  the  Leg 
islature  in  1835.     702  pages.    18  plates,  and  60  wood  cuts. 

5.  Final  Report  on  the  Geology  of  Mass.,  in  two  quartos.     831 
pages  in  all.     52  plates  and  275  wood  cuts.     1841. 

6.  Catalogue  of  Plants  growing  within  twenty  miles  of  Amherst 
College.     64  pages,  in  1829. 


SCIENTIFIC    VOLUMES.  383 

7.  Catalogue  of  Plants  and  Animals  in  Massachusetts,  (from  the 
State  Report.)     127  pages.     1837. 

8.  Fossil  Footmarks  of  the  United  States.     Quarto.     128  pages 
and  24  plates.     From  the  Transactions  of  the  American  Academy  of 
Arts  and  Sciences.     1848. 

9.  Report  on  the  Ichnology  of  New  England.     Quarto.     232  pages, 
60  plates.     1858. 

10.  Report  on  the  Geology  of  Vermont.     2  vols.,  quarto.     In  all, 
988  pages,  with  38  plates  and  365  wood  cuts.     1861.     Of  this  work 
I  wrote  only  about  211  pages,  my  son  Charles  508,  and  Mr.  Hager 
253.     Of  the  plates,  the  first  17  were  executed  chiefly  by  my  son, 
and  the  last  21  entirely  by  Mr.  Hager. 

11.  Report  on  certain  points  in  the  Geology  of  Mass,  to  the  Gov 
ernment.     Pamphlet  of  44  pages  and  3  plates.     1853. 

12.  Explanation  of  the  newly  colored  Geological  Map  of  Massa 
chusetts.     Pamphlet  of  22  pages,  12mo.     1844. 

13.  Three  Preliminary  Annual  Reports,  on  the  Geology  of  Ver 
mont,  in  1857,  1858,  and  1859.     In  all,  41  pages. 

14.  Illustrations  of  Surface  Geology.     A   quarto   of   155   pages 
and  12  plates.     1856.     Second  Edition,  with  two  additional  pages. 
1860. 

15.  Elementary  Geology.     1  vol.,  12mo.     2  plates,  122  wood  cuts. 
329  pages.     1840.     The  8th  Edition,  in  1847,  was  enlarged  to  361 
pages.     And  the  31st  Edition,  in  1860,  was  re-written.     430  pages, 
and  417  wood  cuts.     In  1841,  an  Introductory  Notice  was  written 
by  Dr.  J.  Pye  Smith,  and  the  work  introduced  to  the  British  public, 
but  whether  a  distinct  Edition  was  published  in  London,  I   never 
knew. 

16.  Geology  of  the  Globe.     1  vol.  8vo.     136  pages  and  8  plates. 
1853.     Contains  a  Geological  Map  of  the  whole  world,  and  another 
of  North  America. 

17.  The  Country  Almanac  for  the  years   1814,  1815,  1816,  1817, 
and  1818.     236  pages  in  all. 

V.    SCIENTIFIC  PAPERS  IN  THE  JOURNALS. 
1.  Botany. 

1.  Description  of  Botrychium   Simplex,  (Nov.  Sp.)  with  a  draw 
ing.     American  Journal  of  Science,  Vol.  6,  p.  103.     I  believe  our 
American  Botanists  have  not  generally  admitted  this  species.     But 
it  has  been  found  in  Germany,  and  was   admitted  there  at  a  very 
recent  date. 

2.  Physiology  of  Gyropodium  Coccineum,  with  a  plate.     4  pages. 
American  Journal  of  Science,  Vol.  4,  p.  56. 


384  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

2.  Mineralogy. 

1.  Native  Copper  in  Massachusetts.     American  Journal  of  Sci 
ence,  Vol.  47,  p.  322.     2  pages. 

2.  Lincolnite  Idem.,  Vol.  47,  p.  416;  Vol.  48,  p.  64;  and  Vol 
49,  p.  416.     2  pages. 

3.  Tin  at  Goslien,  Id.,  Vol.  16,  p.  188.     2  1-2  pages. 

4.  Topaz  at  Goshen,  &c.,  I.,  Vol.  9,  p.  180.    1  page. 

5.  Topaz  in  the  White  Mountains,  Id.,  Vol.  20,  p.  410.     1  page. 

6.  Chemical  Analysis  of  the  Topaz  of  Monroe,  in  Connecticut. 
American  Journal  of  Science,  Vol.  10,  p.  352.    7  pages. 

7.  Various  Localities    of  Minerals   described.     Id.,  Vol.  14,  p. 
215,  in  17  pages. 

8.  Yttrocerite  in  Massachusetts.     Id.,  Vol.  47,  p.  351,  in  2  pages. 

3.    Geology. 

1.  Remarks  on  the  Mineralogy  and  Geology  of  a  Section  of  the 
Connecticut  Valley.     American  Journal  of  Science,  Vol.  1,  p.  105, 
in  17  pages,  and  a  Geological  Map. 

2.  Geology  of  Martha's   Vineyard,  with  a  Geological  Map.     8 
pages.     American  Journal  of  Science,  Vol.  7,  p.  240. 

3.  On  certain  causes  of  Geological  Change  in  Massachusetts  now 
in  operation.     Boston  Journal  of  Natural  History,  Vol.  1,  p.  69.   14 
pages.     1835. 

4.  Sketch  of  the  Geology  of  Portland  and  its  Vicinity,  with  a 
Geological  Map  and  8  wood  cuts.     Boston  Journal  of  Natural  His 
tory,  Vol.  1,  p.  306.     42  pages.     1836. 

5.  On  the   Glacier  Theory,  as  held  by  Murchison  and  myself. 
American  Journal  of  Science,  Vol.  43,  p.  396.    3  pages. 

6.  Remarks  on  the  Glacier  Theory,  before  the  Geological  Asso 
ciation.     Id.,  Vol.  45,  p.  324.     2  pages. 

7.  Letter  from  Mr.  Dobson,  on  Iceberg  Drift.    Id.,  Vol.  46,  p.  169. 
3  pages. 

8.  On  the  Trap  Tufa  of  the  Connecticut  Valley.     Id.,  Vol.  4,  new 
series,  p.  199,  in  9  pages,  with  2  wood  cuts. 

9.  Remarkable  Trains  of  Drift  Bowlders  in  Berkshire  County. 
Id.,  Vol.  49,  p.  258.     8  pages,  with  2  wood  cuts. 

10.  Phenomena  of  Drift  in  North  America.     Transactions  of  the 
Geological  Association,  Vol.  1,  p.  164.     In  58  pages  and  2  plates. 

11.  Description  of  Several  Species  of  Fossil  Plants  from  the  new 
Red  Sandstone  of  the  Connecticut  Valley.      Same  work,  p.  294. 
2  1-2  pages  and  1  plate. 

12.  Notes  on  the  Geology  of  Western  Asia.     Same  work,  p.  348. 
75  pages  and  1  plate. 


GEOLOGICAL  PAPERS.  385 

13.  Analysis  of  Marl.  American  Journal  of  Science,  Vol.  36,  p. 
176. 

14:.  Ornithichnology,  or  Description  of  the  Footmarks  of  Birds 
(Ornithichnites)  on  the  New  Red  Sandstone  of  Massachusetts.  34 
pages  and  3  plates.  1836  :  American  Journal  of  Science,  Vol.  29, 
p.  307. 

15.  Ornithichnites  in  Connecticut.    Id.,  Vol.  31,  p.  124. 

16.  Fossil  Footsteps  in  Sandstone  and  Gray  Wacke,  with  a  general 
Table  of.    Id.,  Vol.  32,  p.  174.    2  1-2  pages. 

17.  Five  New  Species   of  Fossil  Footmarks.    Transactions  of 
American  Association  of  Geologists  and  Naturalists,  Vol.  1,  p.  254. 
11  pages  and  1  plate. 

18.  Report  on  Ichnolithology  to  the  American  Association  of 
Geologists  and  Naturalists,  with  a  Description  of  Several  New  Spe 
cies,  and  the  Coprolites  of  Birds.    American  Journal  of  Science, 
Vol.  47,  pp.  113  and  292.    32  pages  and  2  plates. 

20.  Analysis  of  the  Coprolites  from  the  New  Red  Sandstone  of 
Connecticut  Valley.    Id.,  Vol.  48,  p.  46.     15  pages. 

21.  Miscellaneous  Remarks  on  Fossil  Footmarks,  with  a  letter 
from  Prof.  Owen.    Id.,  Vol.  48,  p.  61.     4  pages. 

22.  An  attempt  to  Name,  Classify  and  Describe  the  Animals  that 
made  the  Fossil  Footmarks  of  New  England.    Proceedings  of  Amer 
ican  Association  of  Geologists  and  Naturalists,  p.  23. 

23.  Description  of  two  New  Species  of  Fossil  Footmarks  in  the 
Connecticut  Valley.    American  Journal  of  Science,  N.  S.,  Vol.  4, 
p.  46.     12  pages  and  3  wood  cuts. 

24.  On  New  Fossil  Footmarks.    American  Journal  of  Science, 
N.  S.,  Vol.  21,  p.  96.     3  pages  and  1  wood  cut. 

25.  Additional  Facts  respecting  Octozoum  Moodii.    Proceedings 
of  American  Association  for  1856,  p.  228. 

26.  Remarks  upon  Certain  Points  in  Ichnology.     Proceedings  of 
American  Association  of  Science  for  1860.     12  pages  and  4  wood 
cuts. 

27.  On  Certain  Conglomerated  and  Brecciated  Trachytic  Dikes  in 
the  Lower  Silurian  Rocks  of  Vermont,  with  special  reference  to  the 
degree  of  heat  at  the  time  of  their  production.     Proceedings   of 
American  Scientific  Association  for  1860,  p.  156.     2  pages. 

28.  Additional  Facts  respecting  the  Clathopteris  of  East  Hamp 
ton.     Same  work,  p.  158.     1  page. 

29.  Description  of  a  Slide  on  Mt.  Lafayette,  at  Franconia,  N.  H. 
American  Journal  of  Science,  Vol.  14,  N.  S.,  p.  73.     4  pages. 

30.  On  a  new  Fossil  Fish  and  new  Fossil  Footmarks.    American 

17 


386  REMINISCENCES   OF  AMHEBST   COLLEGE. 

Journal  of  Science,  Vol.  21,  N.  S.,  p.  96.     4  pages  and  1  wood  cut. 
1856. 

31.  Description  of  a  large  Bowlder  in  the  Drift  of  Amherst,  with 
parallel  strias  upon  four  sides.     American  Journal  of  Science,  Vol. 
22,  N.  S.,  p.  397.     3  pages  and  1  wood  cut. 

32.  On  the  Conversion  of  certain  Conglomerates  into  Talcose  and 
Micaceous   Schists   and  Gneiss,  by  the  Elongation,  Flattening  and 
Metamorphosis  of  the  Pebbles  and  the  Cement.     American  Journal 
of  Science,  Vol.  31,  N.  S.,  p.  372.     21  pages  and  10  wood  cuts. 
1861, 

33.  Account  of  the  Collections  of  Rocks  and  Minerals  at  Heidel 
berg.     American  Journal  of  Science,  Vol.  17,  p.  400.     Also  Vol.  39, 
p.  199.     In  all  7  pages. 

34.  New  Mineralogical  Hammer.    Id.,  Vol.  7,  p.  175,  with  a  wood 
cut. 

35.  Report  on  the   Geology   of  Texas,   connected  with  Captain 
Marcy's  Report.     16  pages. 

36.  Abstract  of  paper  on  Terraces,  &c.,  read  before  the  British 
Association  at  Edinburgh.     See  its  Proceedings  for  that  year. 

37.  New  Facts  and  Conclusions  respecting  the  Fossil  Footmarks 
of  the  Connecticut  Valley.     American  Journal  of  Science  for  July, 
1863,  p.  46.     11  pages. 

VI.     PHYSICS. 

1.  Description  of  Cylinders  of  Snow  formed  by  Wind.    American 
Journal  of  Science,  Vol.  2,  p.  375. 

2.  Description  of  a  Disruption  in  the  Frozen  Earth  in  Deerficld 
Meadows.     Id.,  Vol.  1,  p.  286.     7  pages  and  1  plate. 

3.  Singular  Effects   of   Lightning   on   John    Williams,   Esq.,  of 
Conway.     Td.,'Vol.  5,  p.  125.     5  pages  and  1  plate. 

4.  Meteorological  Journal  kept  at  Deerfield  in  1817  and  1818. 
Id.,  Vol.  4,  p.  333.     5  pages. 

5.  On  the  Meteoric  Shower  of  Nov.  13th,  1833.     Id.,  Vol.  2,">,  p. 
354.     8  pages. 

6.  On  Vibrating  Dams.     Id.,  Vol.  45,  p.  370.     1  page. 

7.  On  the  Potato  Rot.     Hampshire  and  Franklin  Express. 

8.  Account  of  Spots  on  the  Sun.     In  the  Franklin  Herald. 

VII.  REPUBLICATIONS. 

1.  Cordier's  Essay  on  the  Temperature  of  the  Globe — translated 
from  the  French.  1  vol.  12mo.  94  pages,  with  an  Introduction  and 
Notes  ;  1823.  Done  nominally  by  the  Junior  Class— but  I  had  to 
go  over  the  whole  to  prevent  mistakes. 


REVIEWS   AND   CONTROVERSIES.  387 

2.  De  la  Beche's  Theoretical  Geology,  with  Preface  and  Notes. 
342  12mo.  pages  ;  1837. 

3.  Genesis  and  Geology,  by  Denis  Crofton.  12mo.  99  pages.  1853. 

4.  Introduction  to  the  Plurality  of  Worlds.     8  pages. 

VIII.  REVIEWS. 

1.  Of  Corrybeare  and  Phillips'  Geology  of  England  and  Wales. 
American  Journal  of  Science,  Vol.  7,  p.  203.     38  pages. 

2.  Of  Olmsted's  lleport  on  the  Geology  of  North  Carolina.     Id., 
Vol.  14,  p.  230.     20  pages. 

3.  Of   Buckland's    Reliquiae    Diluvianse.      Christian    Spectator, 
1824,  p.  415.     23  pages. 

4.  Of  Cordier's,  Scrope's  and  Silliman's  Works  on  Internal  Heat. 
Christian  Spectator,  Vol.  11,  p.  464.     18  pages. 

5.  Of  Buckland's  Reliquia3  Diluvianae,  in  American  Journal  of 
Science,  Vol.  8,  p.  1G8  and  317.     45  pages.     Entirely  different  from 
that  in  the  Christian  Spectator. 

6.  Dana's  Muck  Manual.     American  Journal  of  Science,  Vol.  43, 
p.  192.     6  pages. 

7.  Of  Owen's   Paper   on   the  Dinornis.     American  Journal   of 
Science,  Vol.  48,  p.  194.     8  pages. 

8.  Of  Bailey's   New   Method    of   Determining    the    Longitude. 
American  Journal  of  Science,  Vol.  9,  p.  107.     13  pages. 

IX.  CONTROVERSIES. 

1.  With  Edmund  M.  Blunt,  of  New  York,  on  errors  in  the  Nau 
tical    Almanac.      3  Nos.  in  the  American  Monthly  Magazine  for 
1817  and  1818.     4  pages. 

2.  With  the  Episcopalians,  respecting  the  time  of  Easter.     In  a 
paper  published  in  Greenfield,  which  is  lost.     It  must  have  been  in 
one  of  the  years  in  which  I  published  the  Country  Almanac. 

3.  With  Professor  (now  Bishop)  Potter,  about  some  points  in  the 
Temperance  movement,  growing  out  of  a  Report  of  mine,  of  a 
Convention  in  Saratoga.      They  were  inserted  in  the  New  York 
Evangelist,  and  I  should  think  must  have  been  equal  to  8  or  10 
pages.  12mo. 

4.  With  Prof.  Amos  Eaton,  on  Geological  Nomenclature.     Amer 
ican  Journal  of  Science,  Vol.  9,  p.  146.     8  1-2  pages. 

5.  With  Prof.   Moses    Stuart,  on   several  points    of  connection 
between  Geology  and  the  Bible.     Biblical  Repository  for  April,  1836. 
40  pages. 

6.  With  Dr.  James  Deanc,  on  the  discovery  of  Fossil  Footmarks. 
American  Journal  of  Science,  Vol.  47,  p.  390.     10  pages. 


388  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST    COLLEGE. 

7.  Defence  of  my  claims  in  this  controversy,  in  the   Springfield 
Republican,  and  Reply  to  Dr.  Bowditch,  May,  1859.     6  pages,  octavo. 

8.  Mr.  Draper,  the  first  discoverer  of  the  Footmarks.     Springfield 
Republican,  May  2 1st,  1859.     1  page. 

9.  With  Rev.  Mr.  Chapin,  of  Connecticut,  on  Fossil  Footmarks. 
The  Knickerbocker  for  September,  183G.     G  pages. 

10.  With  Rev.  Erastus  Hopkins,  on  a  Railroad  through  the  Con 
necticut  Valley.     In  the  Journal  of  Commerce  and  the  Hampshire 
Gazette.     Perhaps  6  pages. 

11.  With  the  editor  (Jonathan  A.   Saxton,  Esq.,)  of  a  Unitarian 
paper  in  Greenfield,  in  reply  to  his  attack  upon   "  the  Exhibition  of 
Unitarianism."     My  reply  appeared  in  the  Boston  Recorder,  making, 
perhaps,  4  pages  of  12mo. 

12.  With  one  of  the  editors  of  the  Christian  Register,  (Rev.  Mr. 
Morrison,)  published  in  that  paper  in  several  numbers,  on  the  Res 
urrection  of  the  Body.     5  pages. 

13.  I  afterwards  gave  a  fuller  reply  to  Rev.  E.  H.  Sears  and  Prof. 
Haven,  especially  on  Bodily  Identity,  in  an  Exegesis   of  1  Cor.  xv. 
25—44,  in  the  Bibliotheca  Sacra  for  April,  1800,  p.  303.     10  pages. 

X.    POETRY. 

1.  Downfall  of  Bonaparte  ;  a  Tragedy  of  108  pages,  12mo.     1815. 
A  juvenile  production  which  should  not  have  been  published.     But 
it  contains  some  real  poetry,  and  was  loudly  called  for  by  the  rural 
population  before  whom  it  was  acted  with  much  success. 

2.  The  Prodigal.     Christian  Spectator,  Vol.  1,  p.  300. 

3.  Declining  Health.     Franklin  Herald ;  date  forgotten. 

4.  The  same  subject.     Hampshire  Gazette  for  1818. 

5.  Fragment   on   Disappointment.     Hampshire   Gazette,    March, 
1818. 

6.  The  Fate  of  Genius.     Franklin  Federalist  for  1817  or  1818. 

7.  Scene  on  the  banks  of  the  Connecticut.     (Footmarks.)    Knick 
erbocker;  date  forgotten. 

These  poetical  fragments  will  probably  make  as  much  as  G  or  8 
pages. 

XI.     MISCELLANEOUS. 

1.  Description  of  Turner's  Falls   in  Connecticut  River,  with  a 
Sketch  by  Mrs.  Hitchcock.     Portfolio,  Philadelphia,  1818 

2.  Review  of  the    "  Reediad."    Hampshire   Gazette,  December, 
1818. 

3.  Detection  of   a  Plagiarism  in  Franklin  Federalist,  November, 
1817. 


MISCELLANIES.  389 

4.  Nos.  49,  50,  51  and  52  of  the  Weekly  Monitor,  in  Franklin 
Herald  for  181G.     4  pages. 

5.  The  Moral  Telescope,  in  30  Nos.,  in  the  Franklin  Federalist 
for  1817  and  1818.     The  plan  good,  but  the  literary  execution  very 
juvenile.     30  pages. 

6.  Fragments  on  the  Political  Condition  of  the  United  States. 
Franklin  Herald,  November,  1812. 

7.  Several  Brigade  and  Division  Orders,  in  the  Franklin  Feder 
alist,  while  I  was  Aid-de-Camp  to  Gen.  Hoyt. 

8.  A  Dream  respecting  the  Removal  of  Williams  College.    Frank 
lin  Herald,  December,  1818. 

9.  Appeal  to  the  Public  in  behalf  of  Amherst  College — in  several 
Nos.  of  the  Boston  Recorder  for  1832. 

10.  The  Pangynaskean  Seminary  (Holyoke)  Explained  and  De 
fended,  in  the  Boston  Recorder,  several  Nos. 

11.  Description  of  the  Scenery  in  Berkshire  County,  tin  several 
Nos.  of  the  Boston  Recorder. 

12.  Scenery  of  the  White  Mountains  Described,  in  several  Nos. 
of  the  Boston  Recorder. 

13.  Correspondence  from  Richmond,  Virginia,  in  the  Express  at 
Amherst ;  several  letters 

14.  Visit  to   the   Mid-Lothian   Coal   Mines   in  Virginia,   in  the 
Richmond  Watchman  and  Observer ;  copied  with  remarks  into  the 
Richmond  Times. 

15.  Ancient  Relics  in  Tennessee.     Hampshire  and  Franklin  Ex 
press,  for  March  4th,  1846. 

10.  Naming  Mount  Toby  anew.    Same  paper,  for  June  22d,  1849. 

17.  Mesmeric  Meeting  of  the  Senior  Class  of  1849.     Same  paper, 
November,  1849. 

18.  Popular  Description  of  the  New  Cabinet  and  Observatory  of 
Amherst  College.     A   Pamphlet  of  19  pages.     Also  in  the  Hamp 
shire  and  Franklin  Express. 

19.  Railroads  in  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire.     Hampshire  and 
Franklin  Express,  September  3d,  1846. 

20.  Report  of  the  Meeting  of  the  American  Scientific  Association, 
at  Washington,  for  the  Journal  of  Commerce,  May  23d,  1844. 

21.  Case  of  Optical  Delusion  in  Sickness.     New  Englander  for 
1845.     Vol.  3,  p.  199.     7  pages. 

22.  Address  at  the  Dedication  of  the   new  Geological  Hall  in 
Albany,  August  27,  1856,  in  Tenth  Annual  Regents'  Report.    7  pages. 

23.  Address  at  the  Inauguration  of  Edward  Everett  to  the  Presi 
dency  of  Harvard  College.     Published  in  the  Proceedings, 


390 


REMINISCENCES   OF   AMIIERST   COLLEGE. 


24.  Letters  from  Europe,   to   the  New  York  Observer,  in  1850, 
five  in  number.     10  pages. 

25.  Address  at  the  Quarter-Century  Celebration  of  Mt.  Ilolyoke 
Seminary  in  1861.     See  the  volume  of  Addresses. 

26.  The  first  and  last  chapters  of  Hitchcock's  Elementary  Anat 
omy  and  Physiology.    43  pages.     The  rest  was  written  by  my  oldest 
son. 

SUMMARY. 


Number. 

1 

Plates. 

Wood  Cuts. 

On  Religion. 
Keligious  Volumes,  . 

5 

1,475 

Essays,     ...                                              - 

8 

312 

- 

- 

Addresses,        .        . 

10 

352 

- 

- 

Single  Sermons,       .        . 

12 

357 

- 

- 

Newspaper  Articles, 

4 

?15 

- 

- 

Tracts,      ... 

3 

20 

~ 

- 

On  Temperance. 
Volumes  and  Tracts,        .        .        .        •        • 

6 

735 

13 

16 

Biographies. 
Volume  and  Notices,        

1 

204 

4 

- 

Scientific  Productions. 

16 

3,541 

200 

1,085 

Papers  in  the  Journals,     ..... 

53 

436 

15 

33 

Reviews. 

Number,  &c.,   

B 

171 

- 

- 

Controversies. 

12 

111 

_ 

_ 

Poetry. 
Volumes  and  Pieces,         

7 

116 

_ 

- 

Miscellanies. 

26 

?156 

_ 

_ 

171 

8,001 

232 

1,134 

Distinct  Volumes,        ... 
Separate  Pamphlets,  (Sermons,  &c.,) 
Papers  in  the  Journals,        .• 
Newspaper  Articles,    .  . 


35 


80 


REMARKS.  391 

Several  of  the  papers  in  the  Journals  that  were  never  published 
separate,  are  much  more  elaborate,  and  cost  me  much  more  labor 
than  some  of  the  distinct  volumes.  Thus  the  Articles  on  the  Con 
nection  between  Geology  and  Natural  and  Kevealed  Religion,  in  the 
Biblical  Repository,  amounted  to  240  pages,  and  demanded  much 
research  and  study. 

In  looking  at  the  preceding  list  I  feel  tempted  to  make 
many  remarks;  but  must  be  very  brief. 

1.  In  the  first  place  it  strikes  me  as  showing  that  I  have 
written  and  published  too  much,  both  for  reputation  and  use 
fulness.     I  mean  that  had  I  spent  more  time  in  preparing  my 
productions,  their  literary  execution  would  have  been  more 
creditable,  and  the  thoughts  more  mature  and  effective.     I 
refer  particularly  to  my  earlier  efforts ;  for  the  later  ones,  I 
trust,  show  more  of  care  and  finish.     The  peculiar  circum 
stances  of  my  early  life,  however,  first  led  me  to  write  and 
publish,  and  probably  if  I  were  to  live  my  life  over  again,  I 
should  pursue  essentially  the  same  course. 

2.  It  ought  also  to  be  mentioned  that  a  large  part  of  the 
subjects  on  which  I  have  written  have  been  novel,  requiring 
original  researches,  and  the  descriptions  have  required  accu 
racy  rather  than  literary  elegance.     Where  supposed  discov 
eries  are  made  few  men  will  hesitate  to  publish  an  account  of 
them,   though   a   high    literary   finish    be    wanting    in    the 
description. 

3.  But  though  my  writings  have  been  thus  voluminous,  it  is 
some  consolation  to  be  able  to  say  that  in  these  eight  thousand 
pages,  I  know  of  nothing  unfriendly  to  morality  or  religion ; 
nothing  that  would  lead  men  to  embrace  error  in  doctrine  or 
practice.     For  though  not  a  few  pages  were  written  before  I 
embraced  my  present  views  of  religion,  none  of  my  productions 
would  lead  any  one  to  suspect  that  I  did  not  always  maintain 
the  views  I  now  do.     This  seems  to  me  like  an  act  of  restrain 
ing  grace,  for  which  I  have  great  reason  for  gratitude. 

4.  It  is  well  calculated  to  humble  pride  and  self-sufficiency 
to  realize  how  few,  if  any,  of  these  productions  will  survive  the 


392  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

present  generation.  If  any  of  them  do,  it  will  be  owing  to 
their  connection  with  Christianity.  This  is  a  thought  of  great 
importance  to  authors  who  would  give  their  works  a  permanent 
value. 

o.  Yet  it  ought  to  be  added  that  most  of  these  works  of 
mine  were  not  written  with  the  expectation  that  they  would  go 
down  to  posterity,  but  to  aid  a  little  in  advancing  present 
knowledge — in  adding  some  items  that  should  go  into  the 
general  stock ;  so  that  although  the  works  themselves  should 
be  forgotten,  some  feeble  influence  at  least  might  remain  upon 
the  great  cause  of  learning  and  religion. 

The  work  which  I  did  aim  to  make  of  permanent  value, 
Providence,  as  I  have  elsewhere  detailed,  never  allowed  me 
to  write.  I  mean  a  Treatise  on  Natural  Theology.  All  that 
I  have  written  was  but  the  scaffolding  and  a  few  of  the  braces 
and  pins  of  the  edifice  I  had  hoped  to  build. 

G.  I  feel  bound  also  to  record  the  fact,  that  nearly  all  the 
important  works  on  the  preceding  list  were  written  during 
the  thirty-seven  years  of  my  residence  in  Amherst,  that  is, 
since  the  time  when  I  supposed  I  had  nearly  finished  my 
earthly  labors.  For  when  I  came  to  Amherst  such  was  my 
debility  that  I  honestly  thought  I  could  not  do  much  more. 
Yet  since  then,  the  great  work  of  my  life  has  been  accom 
plished.  All  that  preceded  was  only  the  preparation.  Ho\* 
wonderful  the  ways  of  God,  and  how  different  from  ours » 
What  encouragement  does  my  case  give  to  the  despond  in; 
invalid,  in  the  early  and  middle  periods  of  life.  Let  him  110* 
despair  so  long  as  any  stamina  remains  in  his  constitution 
and  his  maladies  are  only  functional,  not  organic.  God  may 
have  wonders  in  store  for  him  yet. 

7.  Let  me  not  omit  to  mention  also,  that  for  the  two  hun 
dred  and  thirty-two  plates  and  eleven  hundred  and  thirty- 
four  wood  cuts  in  my  works,  I  have  been  mainly  indebted 
to  the  pencil  and  the  patience  of  my  beloved  wife,  aided  in 
later  years  by  my  daughters.  Though  pressed  by  the  cares 
of  a  numerous  family,  rarely,  if  ever,  during  forty  years,  has 


TESTIMONIAL.  393 

she  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  my  solicitations  for  drawings.  And 
without  these,  my  scientific  labors  would  have  been  meagre 
enough.  I  had  no  means  for  employing  a  regular,  salaried 
artist,  and  my  own  skill  in  the  limner's  art  has  always  been 
very  small.  How  providential  that  such  a  wife  should  be 
given  me ! 

GRATIFYING  SURPRISE — PRESENTATION  OF  PLATE. 

The  following  statements  will  fully  explain  themselves.  I  trust 
it  will  not  be  deemed  vanity  if  I  confess  the  gratification  which 
such  an  event  gave  me,  or  regard  it  as  proper  to  present  it  among 
the  striking  features  of  my  personal  history. 

President  STEARNS,  in  behalf  of  the  Faculty  and  Students,  spoke 
as  follows : — 

41  LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN  :  The  Faculty  and  Students  of  Amherst 
College  have  been  desirous  to  make  some  public  expression  of  their 
veneration  and  affection  for  a  distinguished  Professor  of  this  Col 
lege, — a  gentleman  who,  for  age,  for  wisdom,  for  sterling  virtues  of 
every  character,  and  especially  for  his  devotion  to  the  College, 
during  the  period  of  one  whole  generation  and  more,  deserves  in 
some  respect  the  title  of  Father  of  us  all. 

«'  I  can,  of  course,  refer  to  no  one  else  but  the  venerable  and  beloved 
Dr.  HITCHCOCK.  We  have  admired  the  simplicity  and  godly  sincerity 
of  his  character ;  we  have  admired  his  remarkable  abilities  and  achieve 
ments  in  science ;  we  have  admired  his  love  for  the  College, — for  it  in 
its  collective  capacity,  for  its  Faculty,  and  most  of  all,  his  love  for  its 
students.  We  have  admired  the  kindness  and  generosity  of  his  heart ; 
we  have  admired  the  indomitable  energy  of  his  character,  and  that 
Christian  devotion  to  the  highest  interests  of  the  church  and  the  world, 
which,  among  hosts  of  others,  we  have  witnessed,  and  which  has  made 
lasting  impressions  on  our  hearts. 

«'  We  bless  God  that  He  has  given  to  the  interests  of  this  College  one 
who  has  served  it  faithfully  for  thirty  and  four  years,  in  the  midst 
of  its  good  and  of  its  evil  report ;  one  who  has  stood  by  it  in  the 
days  of  its  adversity,  when  it  went  down,  as  it  did  go  down,  into 
the  depths  of  trial, — when  false  friends  forsook  it,  and  true  friends 
began  to  grow  cold  in  heart  towards  it — when  there  was  a  falling 
off  of  friendships,  as  the  sere  and  withered  leaves  fall  from  the  trees 
when  the  early  frosts  of  winter  have  smitten  them.  Our  venerable 
Father,  in  these  days  of  darkness,  stood  by  Amherst  College,  and 
with  some  of  his  colleagues,  two  or  three  of  whom  are  still  in  the 
17* 


394  REMINISCENCES   OP    AMHEBST   COLLEGE. 

midst  of  us,  bore  it  on  his  noble  shoulders  till  he  bore  it  up  and  on 
to  prosperity,  as  seen  here,  and  all  around  us,  to-day.  When  recently 
smitten  by  a  gigantic  disease,  tears  started  from  many  eyes,  and 
prayers  went  up  from  many  hearts ;  and  when  the  life  we  had  loved 
was  preserved,  we  wished  to  present  some  testimonial  to  him  of  our 
delight  in  his  recovery,  and  some  token  of  thankfulness  to  Almighty 
God,  for  this,  his  goodness  unto  us. 

"  It  was  difficult  to  decide  what  should  be  the  gift.  "We  knew  that 
there  was  nothing  within  our  means  at  all  commensurate  with  his 
merits  on  whom  we  would  bestow  it,  but  we  decided  at  length, 
on  this  service  of  silver  which  you  see.  These  two  cups  which  you 
see  before  you,  which  might  look  somewhat  suspicious  under  some 
circumstances,  we  knew  would  be  safe  in  the  hands  of  an  old  veteran 
temperance  soldier,  who  gave  in  his  pledge  more  than  a  quarter  of  a 
century  ago,  and  has  kept  it  ever  since.  You  see  them  as  they  have 
come  from  the  hand  of  the  artist,  innocent  of  deleterious  drugs  ;  they 
will  always  remain  innocent  while  they  continue  in  the  hands  of  him 
to  whom  we  now  deliver  them. 

"This  simple  pitcher  has  inscribed  upon  it  the  name  of  Edward 
Hitchcock ;  honor  enough  for  the  pitcher ;  even  if  it  were  made  of 
gold  seven  times  purified.  We  could  not  disfigure  it  by  the  addition 
of  another  single  word. 

"This  salver  contains  in  the  centre  the  following  inscription: — 

EDWARD  HITCHCOCK: 

FROM  THE 
FACULTY    AND    STUDENTS    OF    AMHERST    COLLEGE, 

A  TESTIMONIAL  OF  THEIR  PERSONAL  REGARD, 

AND    OF    THEIR    HIGH   APPRECIATION    OF    HIS    SERVICES 

FOR    SCIENCE    AND    THE    COLLEGE. 

"  On  one  side  of  this  inscription  are  embossed  these  beautiful  old 
mountains,  (pointing  to  Mount  Holyoke,)  on  which  he  has  gazed  I 
know  with  admiration,  for  half  a  century ;  which  he  has  traversed, 
which  he  has  measured,  which  he  has  compelled  to  give  up  the 
secrets  of  a  past  eternity  to  his  investigations,  and  that  beautiful 
river  along  whose  banks  he  has  so  often  travelled,  and  mused  of  the 
revelations  which  they  had  disclosed  to  his  view. 

"  On  the  other  side  is  engraved  a  scene  which  I  shall  not  attempt 
to  describe  at  length,  save  to  say  that  it  is  taken  from  an  engraving 
in  the  volume  most  recently  published  by  him,  "  The  Ichnology  of 
Massachusetts."  In  it  you  will  see  some  of  those  'footprints  in  the 
sands  of  time,'  the  discovery  and  arrangement  of  which  have  contributed 


PLATE   PRESENTED.  395 

so  much  to  give  him  reputation,  not  only  in  this  country,  but  all 
over  the  scientific  world. 

"This,  then,  is  in  brief,  an  explanation  of  our  gift.  We  shall 
convey  it  into  the  hands  of  the  Doctor,  with  the  approval,  I  have 
no  doiibt,  of  this  entire  congregation. 

"Doctor  Hitchcock,  we  would  respectfully  ask  you  to  accept  this 
service  of  silver  from  the  hands  of  the  Faculty  and  Students  of 
Amherst  College.  We  would  like,  if  you  please,  to  have  you  place 
it,  from  time  to  time,  in  situations  where  your  friends  and  ours  can 
see,  not  how  highly  we  esteem  your  merits,  for  that  we  could  not 
express  in  these  outward  forms,  but  where  they  can  see  that  we  loved 
you. 

"We  rejoice  in  your  recovery,  and  pray  that  your  life's  sun, 
which  has  shone  out  among  us  so  long,  may  shine  on  through  a  long 
and  peaceful  afternoon,  and  largest  and  brightest  at  its  setting. 

"If  it  may  please  you,  we  would  like  that  this  service  should  be 
transmitted  to  some  one  who  shall  inherit,  in  some  good  degree, 
your  ability,  your  taste  and  your  devotion  to  science.  We  would 
like  that  it  should  always  be  in  the  hands  of  some  one  of  your  pos 
terity,  and  we  would  that  they  might  be  numerous  as  those  of  the 
old  Patriarch,  of  whom  it  was  said  that  his  descendants  should  be 
as  the  stars  of  Heaven,  provided  only,  that  they  partake  largely  of 
the  characteristics  of  their  ancestor.  But,  whether  they  be  few  or 
many,  it  is  our  hope  that  there  may  never  be  wanting  among  them, 
from  generation  to  generation,  a  man  who  shall  be  found  walking  in 
the  foot-marks  of  his  illustrious  progenitor." 

"To  the  above  address,  Dr.  Hitchcock  replied  as  follows  : — 
"  MR.  PRESIDENT  :    It  is  not  usual  for  a  man  who  has  seen  over 
three-score  years  to  be  thrown  into  circumstances  entirely  new  to 
his  experience;  but  your  announcement  just  now  has  brought  me 
into  that  predicament. 

"But  what  shall  I  say  of  the  superb  present  you  have  now  ten 
dered  to  me  in  the  name  of  the  whole  College  ?  My  first  remark  in 
regard  to  it  may  seem  ungracious,  yet  I  rather  think  duty  requires 
me  to  make  it.  A  glance  shows  me  the  costliness  of  the  present, 
and  knowing  the  disposition  of  the  members  of  College  to  aid  every 
noble  enterprise,  I  fear  that  when  they  find  how  many  other  more 
important  objects  solicit  their  aid,  they  will  begin  to  think  that  they 
have  been  too  liberal  towards  me,  and  have  acted  more  through  the 
influence  of  generous  feeling  than  from  a  proper  estimate  of  my 
claims  compared  with  those  of  higher  moment.  Perhaps,  however, 


396  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

you  may  say  to  me  as  a  certain  ancient  monarch  did  to  one  who 
thought  him  too  liberal :  '  the  present  may  be  too  great  for  you  to 
ask,'  but  not  too  great  for  the  members  of  Amherst  College  to  bestow. 

"  Another  remark  occurs  to  me  which  may  seem  ungracious,  for 
it  is  a  criticism  which  calls  in  question  the  taste  you  have  displayed 
in  the  getting  up  of  this  rich  gift.  In  the  works  of  nature  nothing 
strikes  us  more  forcibly  than  the  adaptation  of  one  thing  to  another 
in  order  to  produce  harmony.  Now  my  difficulty  is,  that  these  bril 
liant  and  dazzling  articles,  constructed  of  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
of  metals,  with  high  artistic  skill,  are  not  exactly  adapted  to  the  well 
known  character  of  him  on  whom  they  are  bestowed — a  man  who 
has  made  plainness  and  simplicity  of  living  a  sort  of  hobby,  and  who 
has  rubbed  so  hard  against  the  rocks  that  most  likely  they  have 
given  him  some  degree  of  angularity  and  roughness. 

"But  I  will  not  be  very  severe  in  this  matter,  either  upon  you  or 
myself,  for  it  is  a  true  adage  which  says,  De  gusiibus  non  est  dispu- 
tandum,  (about  different  tastes  there  should  be  no  dispute.)  No, 
no ;  it  is  far  better  to  think  of  the  animus  with  which  the  gift  is 
bestowed  than  to  be  carping  about  its  character.  And  in  the  present 
case,  when  I  reflect  upon  the  animus,  every  other  feeling  gives  place 
to  gratitude  to  the  generous  hearts  that  have  devised  and  completed 
this  elegant  testimonial.  It  has  come,  too,  at  the  right  time,  if  ever 
any  such  gift  was  to  be  bestowed.  You  have  waited  till  the  working 
day  of  my  life  is  essentially  over,  and  thus  shown  that  it  is  a  testi 
mony  of  approval  of  my  past  services,  (always  excepting  my  errors 
and  deficiencies,)  and  not  as  a  stimulus  to  make  me  faithful  in  future. 
It  comes,  too,  at  an  unexpected  time,  as  a  sort  of  agreeable  appendix 
to  my  life,  when  God  is  granting  me  at  least  a  brief  respite  from 
fierce  disease,  and  it  will  furnish  me  with  some  sweet  remembrances 
to  carry  with  me  to  another  bed  of  sickness,  which  may  be  near. 
It  will  tend  also  to  make  me  feel  that  I  have  not  lived  altogether  in 
vain,  as  in  the  hour  of  despondency  one  is  apt  to  feel  he  has  done. 

"This  testimonial,  as  I  understand  it,  and  as  you  have  explained 
its  devices,  has  special  reference  to  my  labors  in  connection  with 
this  College. 

"  If  at  any  time  since  I  have  been  connected  with  the  Institution, 
the  great  Captain  above  had  ordered  me  to  make  an  attack  upon 
Satan  and  his  legions  in  some  of  his  strongholds,  with  a  view  to 
make  him  a  captive,  I  could  have  found  here  a  body-guard  of  a 
hundred  men,  so  prepared  for  the  enterprise  that  I  should  have  gone 
forth  with  a  pretty  strong  hope  of  being  able  to  bring  back  the  old 
fellow  in  chains.  At  any  rate,  those  thousand  men  who  have  gone 


EARLY  POVERTY.  397 

forth  from  us  in  years  past,  have  given  him  more  trouble  than  per 
haps  any  other  thousand  he  has  ever  encountered ;  and  when  they 
are  reinforced  by  a  few  more  classes,  I  expect  the  news  will  be,  if 
not  that  he  is  captured,  yet,  that  he  is  cooped  up  in  close  siege  in 
one  of  his  strongholds. 

"  To  be  willing  to  labor  hard  in  such  an  Institution,  I  do  not  think 
entitles  a  Christian  man  to  any  special  commendation,  but  its  high 
character  does  enhance  the  value  of  any  honor  it  may  bestow.  In 
conclusion,  I  will  only  say  to  its  members,  both  officers  and  students, 
essentially  what  Boerhaave  near  the  close  of  life  said  to  Linnasus, 
4 1  have  tried  to  do  something  here  for  the  cause  of  learning  and 
religion,  but  may  God  preserve  you  all,  from  whom  the  world 
expects  much  more.' " 

OBSTACLES  IN  MY  WAY. 

The  preceding  Personal  Sketches  have  shown  that  my 
path  through  life  has  been  hedged  up  by  some  obstacles  of  a 
peculiar  kind,  which  have  clung  to  me  like  the  coat  of  Nessus. 
With  some  references  to  the  most  prominent  of  these,  I  shall 
close  this  autobiographical  sketch. 

POVERTY. 

During  all  my  early  days,  this  was  the  gaunt  giant  that 
stood  in  my  path  to  heat  me  back  and  drive  me  into  bye 
paths.  I  remember  the  time  when  my  money  with  which  to 
purchase  books  was  obtained  by  cutting  wood  or  doing  other 
servile  labor,  for  eight  cents  an  hour,  or  keeping  a  district 
school  for  eight  dollars  per  month,  or  thirty  cents  by  the  day. 
My  salary  as  preceptor  of  Deerfield  Academy  was  only  $300, 
and  as  a  pastor  in  Conway,  only  $500.  In  College  it  has 
been  from  $800  to  $1,500.  I  have  never  complained  of  this, 
nay,  I  think  I  am  now  better  off,  pecuniarily,  than  if  I  had 
had  large  salaries,  because  the  small  ones  necessitated  rigid 
economy,  and  compelled  me  to  keep  on  the  look  out  for  side 
chances  to  make  a  little  money  by  lecturing,  writing,  &c. 
But  books,  apparatus,  and  specimens  require  money,  and  so 
does  the  leisure  demanded  by  successful  literary  and  scientific 
researches;  and  in  a  multitude  of  ways,  especially  to  the 


398  REMINISCENCES   OP  AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

youthful  aspirant  who  has  no  prestige  to  recommend  him,  the 
influence  of  poverty  is  painfully  depressing  and  discouraging. 
It  was  so  to  me  during  all  the  early  part  of  my  twelve  years' 
struggle  for  an  education,  before  reaching  a  profession. 

WEAK  EYES. 

Another  of  the  lions  in  my  path  was  weakness  of  eye-sight, 
that  came  upon  me,  as  elsewhere  related,  in  consequence  of 
the  mumps.  For  a  year  and  a  half,  in  connection  with 
poverty,  it  almost  completely  cut  me  off  from  all  literary 
pursuits,  and  for  forty  years  it  held  its  grasp  upon  me  so 
firmly,  that  scarcely  ever  could  I  use  the  eyes  for  an  hour 
Without  pain,  and  severe  prostration  of  the  animal  spirits, 
cutting  down  my  ability  to  study,  as  I  judged,  full  one-half. 
Through  the  kindness  of  Providence,  for  a  few  years  past  I 
have  been,  in  a  great  measure,  relieved  from  this  suffering ; 
but  during  the  active  period  of  my  life  it  may  afford  some 
apology  for  haste  and  inaccuracy  in  my  productions. 

WANT  OF  A  PUBLIC  EDUCATION. 

I  have  referred  to  this  deficiency  in  another  place,  with 
special  reference  to  the  Presidency  of  the  College ;  but  I  now 
speak  of  it  in  all  its  bearings.  Great  as  its  literary  disadvan 
tages  are,  I  think  them  less  than  its  other  evils.  It  raises 
presumptions  in  the  public  mind  against  your  ability  and  reli 
ability,  that  require  the  most  strenuous  efforts  to  overcome, 
and  make  your  passage  to  place  and  influence  very  slow  and 
difficult.  But  still  worse,  it  deprives  you  of  the  sympathy 
and  companionship,  and  the  assistance,  when  needed,  of  cla.-s- 
juates,  who  occupy  various  positions  in  society  ;  if  you  have 
never  passed  through  college,  you  will  be  left  to  struggle 
on  alone  when  trouble  overtakes  you,  or  help  is  needed  to 
secure  some  boon.  Little  do  men  who  have  never  expe 
rienced  it,  know  what  a  trial  it  is  to  attempt  to  pass  through 
life  as  a  literary  and  professional  man,  unassisted  and  unblessed 
by  kind  and  sympathizing  room-mates  and  classmates,  and 


FEEBLE    HEALTH.  399 

college  companions.  It  makes  life's  struggle  doubly  severe 
and  trying.  Weak  eyes  and  poor  health  deprived  me  of  this 
boon,  in  spite  of  my  efforts ;  but  I  have  never  ceased  to  urge 
young  men  in  a  literary  course  to  secure  it,  if  possible. 

FEEBLE  HEALTH. 

This  has  been  the  grand  incubus  that  has  lain  upon  me  and 
oppressed  me  for  fifty  years.  At  the  commencement  of  that 
period  dyspepsy  assailed  me,  and  has  never  since  let  go  its 
hold.  I  have  never  passed  a  whole  day  of  those  fifty  years 
when  I  was  not  reminded  in  some  part  of  it,  by  pain  or 
discomfort  of  some  kind,  that  I  had  not  vigorous  health,  and 
how  many  have  been  the  days  when  serious  indisposition 
assailed  me.  For  the  last  twenty  years  my  symptoms  have 
been  greatly  aggravated  and  have  extended  to  other  organs 
besides  the  digestive.  The  intensity  and  continuity  of  my 
sufferings  have  been  gradually  increasing  until  of  late,  when 
they  have  become  almost  unremitting  and  overwhelming, 
causing  me  to  cry  out  earnestly  for  Divine  Help  and  for  the 
Son  of  Man  to  walk  with  me  in  the  furnace.  But  why  should 
I  attempt  to  describe  my  sufferings,  both  in  bodily  distress  and 
mental  dejection  ?  I  have  no  wish  that  any  one  should  learn 
their  bitterness  by  experience,  and  I  am  sure  that  is  the  only 
way. 

But  on  the  other  hand,  I  ought  to  say  that  I  have  generally 
been  in  such  a  condition  that  the  exercise  of  some  resolution 
would  bring  my  powers,  both  of  body  and  mind,  into  successful 
action,  and  dispel  dejection,  and  that,  moreover,  the  effort 
usually  reacted  favorably  upon  my  health  when  not  carried  to 
excess.  Hence,  probably,  few  men  have  lost  less  of  time  than 
I  have.  Though  unable  to  labor  spasmodically  and  with  con 
densed  effort,  I  have  been  able  to  labor  constantly,  almost  in 
fact  without  vacation,  and  here  is  the  chief  secret  of  whatever 
success  has  crowned  my  endeavors. 

I  ought,  however,  to  mention  thankfully,  that  while  the  other 
vital  centres  have  always  been  more  or  less  deranged,  the 


400  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

brain  has  been  unusually  free  from  headaches  and  other 
ailments,  so  that  I  have  been  able  to  work  even  in  the  midst 
of  severe  pain,  and  in  fact  during  some  of  the  fevers  that  have 
afflicted  me,  my  head  being  but  slightly  affected,  I  have  been 
able  to  employ  an  amanuensis  with  success.  And  now  when 
I  suffer  sa  large  a  part  of  the  time,  I  find  it  an  alleviation  to 
have  some  subject  of  literature  or  science  to  engage  my  atten 
tion  and  divert  it  from  my  pains.  The  only  danger  is  that 
when  so  feeble  I  am  apt  to  overwork. 

But  to  stand  up  against  so  much  of  infirmity  and  mental 
dejection  as  accompanies  nervous  complaints  has  been  with 
me  a  hard  and  long  drawn  struggle.  A  few  words  as  to  the 
chief  weapons  I  have  employed. 

COUNTERACTING  AGENCIES. 

These  have  been  chiefly  two  :  TEMPERANCE  AND  HARD 
WORK.  As  to  the  first,  though  the  system  which  I  adopted 
many  years  ago  has  brought  a  good  deal  of  ridicule  and  odium 
upon  me,  its  imperfect  adoption  has  been  an  indispensable 
means  of  giving  me  strength  and  courage  for  my  labors.  It 
gave  me  the  greatest  amount  of  bodily  and  mental  vigor  of 
which  I  was  capable,  and  in  a  measure  removed  the  torpor  and 
irresolution  so  paralyzing  in  dyspeptic  complaints. 

Perhaps,  however,  it  is  even  more  important  to  be  under 
some  pressure  of  interesting  and  noble  pursuits,  and  to  be 
compelled  to  labor  much  in  the  open  air,  in  order  to  counteract 
these  hydra-headed  maladies.  And  in  no  respect  have  the 
dealings  of  Providence  towards  me  seemed  more  marked  and 
special  than  in  placing  me  in  such  positions  as  demanded  a 
large  amount  of  labor,  and  much  of  it  mechanical  and  in  the 
open  air.  As  I  once  said  at  an  agricultural  dinner,  where 
jrymnastic  exercises  had  been  the  prominent  exhibition:  "I 
know  nothing  of  technical  gymnastics;  but  I  have  been  in 
three  very  distinct  gymnastic  schools.  The  first  was  the 
agricultural,  where  I  spent  the  first  twenty  years  of  my  life, 
and  which  was  admirably  adapted  to  develop  and  strengthen 


MY  GYMNASTICS.  401 

all  the  powers.  The  second  was  the  chemical  gymnasium, 
where  I  spent  another  twenty  years,  or  at  least  an  important 
part  of  them ;  and  though  not  as  good  as  the  agricultural, 
because  within  doors  and  associated  with  too  many"  mephitic 
gases,  yet  the  active  labor  it  requires  made  it  to  me  a  valuable 
school.  The  third  was  the  geological  gymnasium,  the  best  of 
all  to  me,  because  I  could  adapt  its  exercises  from  gentle  to 
severe,  to  the  varying  states  of  my  health,  also  because  it  opens 
before  the  mind  such  grand  and  exhilarating  truths.  In  this 
school  I  have  spent  more  than  forty  years."  And  were  I  not 
too  feeble  for  geological  explorations  even  now  I  might  hope 
to  feel  the  powers  of  life  rallying  anew  for  yet  further  labors. 
But  alas  !  I  can  never  climb  the  glorious  mountains  more.  I 
can  only  gaze  at  them  as  I  pass  away  from  earth,  anticipating 
celestial  mountains  and  a  celestial  geology  far  transcending 
those  below. 

It  is  obvious,  from  this  history,  that  though  God  has  won 
derfully  adapted  my  circumstances  to  my  constitution  by  a 
variety  of  means,  modified  in  each  successive  position  which 
I  have  occupied,  yet  geology  has  been  by  far  the  most  impor 
tant  instrumentality  by  which  I  have  so  long  resisted  the  slow 
workings  of  disease,  and  been  able  to  labor,  almost  unremit 
tingly,  for  half  a  century.  I  am  inclined,  therefore,  in  closing 
these  autobiographical  sketches,  to  let  the  benefits  which  I 
have  derived  from  this  science  stand  instar  omnium — a  sort 
of  representative  illustration  of  God's  merciful  dealings  in  all 
respects. 

I  wish  to  testify  publicly  to  my  deep  indebtedness  to 
geology  ;  or  rather  to  that  kind  Providence  which  first  turned 
my  attention  to  this  science,  and  has  allowed  me  for  a  period 
of  fifty  years  to  study  it  practically.  It  was  not  my  first 
scientific  love,  for,  at  an  earlier  date,  the  heavens  above 
had  charmed  my  intellect  and  awakened  youthful  enthusiasm. 
But  when  failing  health  forbade  nightly  communion  with 
the  stars,  I  turned  to  the  earth  as  a  child  to  its  mother, 
in  hope  of  relief;  nor  was  I  disappointed.  For,  in  the  prac- 


402  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

tical  study  of  this  science,  I  have  ever  since  found  such  relief 
as  no  medical  skill  could  give,  although  in  fact  it  is  just  the 
prescription  which  the  ablest  physician  would  make ;  for  I 
have  always  found  that  when  able  to  go  forth  a  la  mode  yeo- 
logique,  and  climb  the  mountain  top,  there  drinking  in  the  air 
as  pure  as  God  first  made  it,  and  partaking  of  my  frugal 
repast  by  the  side  of  the  clear,  sparkling  spring,  then  anon  to 
penetrate  the  deep  and  wild  mountain  gorge,  with  its  ragged, 
overhanging  cliffs  above,  and  its  murmuring  waters  below; 
and  then  to  open  the  long-folded  leaves  of  the  rocky  strata, 
and  find  the  register  there  of  mighty  revolutions  and  strange 
races  in  the  hoary  past :  to  find,  in  fact,  everywhere  mar 
vellous  disclosures  of  the  great  plans  of  Jehovah,  such  as 
make  one  forget  his  ailments  and  ordinary  cares — I  have 
always  found,  I  say,  that  such  excursions  have  proved  the 
best  of  restoratives  to  the  exhausted  system,  ijow  often, 
when  worn  down  by  professional  labors  and  distracting  cares, 
and  feeling  the  prostration  of  lurking  disease,  have  I  thus  cast 
myself  into  nature's  maternal  arms,  and  nursed  for  a  time  on  ' 
her  bosom,  have  returned  reinvigorated  to  my  work,  buoyant 
and  happy.  I  feel,  then,  that  I  owe  my  life,  at  least  many 
years  of  it,  to  geology.  For  I  can  honestly  say,  with  Richard 
Baxter,  that  I  have  now  lived  forty  years  since  the  time  when 
I  would  gladly  liave  accepted  of  Hezekiah's  lease  of  fifteen. 
Nor  do  I  believe  that  without  the  hygienic  aid  of  geology  I 
should  have  exceeded  the  king  of  Judah's  lease. 

But  I  am  deeply  indebted  to  this  science,  also,  for  the 
enjoyment  of  life ;  I  mean  physical  and  intellectual  pleasure. 
He  is  most  conscious  of  enjoyment  from  health,  who  feels  it 
wholly  or  partially  returning  to  his  long  debilitated  and  suffer 
ing  frame.  That  feeling  have  I  often  experienced  as  the  result 
of  the  excursions  I  have  described ;  or  at  least  the  exhilara 
tion  thus  produced  has  made  me  forgetful  of  my  real  and 
fancied  ailments,  and  even  expelled  the  nervousness  and 
gloom  of  dyspeptic,  bronchial  and  neuralgic  attacks.  But  it 
is  mainly  the  intellectual  enjoyment  of  geological  research  to 


INFLUENCE  OP  GEOLOGY.  403 

which  I  refer.  I  reckon,  and  who  does  not  reckon,  among 
the  purest  pleasures  of  life,  the  opportunity  to  gaze  upon  the 
beautiful,  the  bizarre  and  the  sublime  in  natural  scenery. 
Such  occasions  form  delightful  oases  along  life's  barren  sands. 
We  never  forget  them.  They  have  few  or  no  drawbacks, 
and  we  enjoy  them  by  retrospection  over  and  over  again,  and 
with  increasing  relish.  But  though  such  scenes  lie  not  exclu 
sively  within  the  province  of  the  geologist,  he  is  prepared 
better  than  others  to  enjoy  them.  His  home  is  among  them. 
There  is  no  mountain  so  high  that  he  does  not  scale  it,  no 
gulf  too  profound  for  his  adventurous  step ;  no  region  so  wild 
and  desolate  that  is  not  full  of  interest  to  him. 

"  His  arc  the  mountains  and  the  valleys  his, 
And  the  resplendent  rivers  ;  his  to  enjoy 
With  a  propriety  none  else  can  feel. 
Are  they  not  his  by  a  peculiar  right, 
And  by  an  emphasis  of  interest  his  ? " 

For  he  sees  in  them  what  others  do  not.  Their  views  are 
limited  by  the  present  aspect  and  outline.  But  he  sees,  in 
imagination,  those  mountains  originally  rising  out  of  the  deep, 
by  igneous  agency,  and  then  anon  disappearing  again  beneath 
the  waters,  whose  oceanic  waves  and  currents,  loaded  with 
icefloes  and  icebergs,  grind  down  and  striate  the  rocky  bottom. 
Again  these  ocean  beds  rise  to  the  daylight,  and  from  their 
summits  glaciers  descend  along  the  valleys  to  the  ocean,  and 
at  length  returning  heat  melts  them  away,  and  the  surface 
assumes  its  present  outline,  and  becomes  a  habitable  world. 
Nor  are  these  mere  fancy  sketches,  but  the  evidences  of  the 
changes  meet  the  geologist  on  every  side.  Thus  in  his  mind 
moral  beauty  and  sublimity  are  added  to  those  that  are 
natural,  increasing  vastly  his  interest  and  enjoyment. 

And  the  same  effect  follows  from  the  immense  antiquity  of 
geological  changes,  so  far  exceeding  that  of  human  history. 
The  very  dawn  of  chronology  indeed  forms  only  the  starting 
point  of  the  geologist,  and  its  whole  extent  forms  scarcely  a 


404  REMINISCENCES   OP   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

measurable  unit  of  the  almost  immeasurable  past.  Does  the 
archrcologyst  become  enthusiastic  as  he  studies  the  catacombs, 
the  pyramids,  and  the  hieroglyphics  of  Egypt,  because  they 
lead  so  far  back  into  history  ?  But  the  geologist  can  point  to 
the  delta  of  the  Nile  already  nearly  completed  when  the  pyra 
mid  builders  lived  and  the  mummies  were  embalmed ;  or  to 
the  fossil  forest  near  Cairo  which  grew  long  before  the  delta 
was  begun ;  or  to  the  other  formations  along  the  borders  of 
the  desert  which  preceded  the  forest  by  countless  ages.  Or  he 
can  run  back  far,  far  beyond  all  this,  still  surely  conducted  by 
the  thread  of  geological  facts.  And  what  by  the  side  of  all 
this  is  even  Egyptian  antiquity,  and  why  should  not  the 
geologist  feel  at  least  equal  enthusiasm  with  the  Egyptologist? 

We  contemplate  with  a  kind  of  awe  the  old  carved  bulls 
and  lions  and  winged  gods  dug  from  the  ruins  of  Nineveh. 
But  the  geologist  knocks  out  the  petrified  shell  found  in  those 
figures,  and  can  trace  back  its  history  ten  thousand  ages  to  the 
time  when  it  lived  in  cretaceous  or  oolitic  seas. 

In  this  country  we  speak  of  an  Ante-Columbian  history  as 
giving  a  hoary  aspect  to  our  annals,  and  making  them  there 
fore  of  intense  interest.  But  the  geologist  can  point  to  beds 
of  gravel  and  sand  near  the  tops  of  most  of  the  New  England 
mountains,  and  to  the  erosions  of  their  summits  by  icebergs 
and  glaciers,  showing  that  once  the  ocean  stood  for  ages  above 
them,  and  that  an  arctic  climate  prevailed ;  nay,  he  can  show 
where  the  Connecticut  and  the  Hudson,  by  the  slow  action  of 
their  streams,  have  cut  gorges  into  the  rocks  a  thousand 
feet  deep.  Indeed,  passing  beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains  and 
following  down  the  Colorado,  he  can  show  you  canons  or  gorges 
a  mile  deep  which  that  river  has  worn  into  the  solid  strata. 
Compared  with  the  period  requisite  for  such  a  work,  how 
dwarfed  into  a  point  is  all  human  history.  And  how  can  this 
immense  antiquity  of  geological  events  but  give  them  intense 
interest,  and  their  investigation,  rich  enjoyment.  For  almost 
every  stroke  of  the  hammer  brings  up  a  new  relic  of  some 
geological  Nineveh. 


GEOLOGY   CONFIRMS   RELIGION.  405 

But  I  have  found  in  geology  a  still  higher  source  of  gratifi 
cation  and  one  not  expected.  It  has  deepened  my  convictions 
of  the  truth  not  only  of  natural  but  of  revealed  religion.  It 
has  bound  together  into  one  system  these  two  great  branches 
of  the  subject.  It  has  done  more.  It  has  illustrated  and  con 
firmed  many  of  the  truths  denominated  evangelical.  What 
are  called  the  Doctrines  of  the  Reformation,  which  I  adopted 
on  the  testimony  of  the  Scriptures,  I  could  not  now  give  up 
without  discarding  geology  also.  Covered  over  as  the  geolog 
ical  records  are  with  proofs  of  Divine  Benevolence  as  exhibited 
in  a  fallen  world,  and  of  miraculous  and  providential  interven 
tions,  how  gratifying  the  labor  of  deciphering  them.  I  was 
once  wandering  in  the  deep  darkness  of  a  coal  mine  a  thousand 
feet  below  the  surface,  when  I  was  accosted  by  a  Welsh  miner 
with  the  inquiry,  "  What  is  the  state  of  religion  where  you 
came  from  ?  We  have  a  revival  here ! "  An  appropriate 
place,  thought  I,  to  find  evidence  of  God's  special  care  of  the 
spiritual  wants  of  man,  enveloped  as  we  were  by  the  proof 
of  his  prospective  and  special  provision  for  his  physical  wants. 

As  I  once  stood  by  the  side  of  the  Mer  de  Glace  at 
Montanvert  on  the  side  of  Mont  Blanc,  looking  across  the 
Glacier,  we  saw  rising  before  us  those  numerous  needle  shaped 
mountains  which  form  one  of  the  most  striking  features  of  the 
Alps,  one  of  them,  the  Auguille  Verte,  shooting  up  seven 
thousand  feet.  Together  they  seemed  a  city  of  gigantic  myia- 
rets  or  church  spires,  and  so  impressed  was  an  English  gentle 
man  by  my  side  with  the  resemblance  and  the  grandeur  of  the 
scene,  that  he  requested  my  companion,  an  American  clergy 
man,  to  offer  prayer.  And  the  request  seemed  appropriate ; 
for 

"  So  like  a  temple  did  it  seem  that  there 
A  pious  heart's  first  impulse  would  be  prayer." 

And  so,  were  the  heart  right,  would  many  other  spots  seem 
which  the  geologist  visits. 

I  know,  indeed,  that  many  imagine  geology  to  be  unfavorable 
to  piety,  and  tending  to  scepticism.  I  can  say  only  that  it  has 


406  REMINISCENCES   OF   AMHERST   COLLEGE. 

not  been  so  with  me,  but  the  reverse;  strengthening  my  faith 
in  the  great  principles  of  the  gospel,  and  enabling  me  to  see 
something  of  the  Cross  in  Nature  and  something  of  Nature  in 
the  Cross. 

But  my  special  object  in  giving  these  details  of  private 
history  and  feeling,  is  to  induce  my  readers  to  turn  their 
attention,  at  least  as  a  matter  of  recreation,  to  the  out-door 
study  of  geology.  Confined  as  most  men  are,  a  large  part 
of  the  year,  by  engrossing  pursuits,  seasons  of  relaxation 
abroad  are  indispensable  not  only  to  their  comfort,  but  to 
enable  them  to  do  the  most  at  home.  Gladly  at  such  times 
would  I  entice  you  into  the  wild  scenes  of  Nature.  The 
mountains,  the  valleys,  the  gorges,  the  beetling  cliffs,  the 
caverns,  the  mines,  the  wild  cataracts,  the  deep  solitudes,  stand 
ready  to  welcome  you,  to  inspire  you  with  fresh  vigor,  and  to 
feast  you  with  their  beauties  and  sublimities,  as  much  as  if 
none  before  you  had  revelled  upon  them.  In  the  height  of 
balmy  summer  then,  when  nature  cries  out  for  a  respite  from 
protracted  cares  and  labors,  let  me  exhort  you  to  go  forth,  not 
with  fishing  tackle  and  fowling-piece,  (the  meagre  resort  of 
many,)  but  with  minds  well  stored  with  scientific  principles,  a 
hammer  in  hand,  and  an  aneroid  barometer  by  your  side,  and 
laying  your  course  for  the  mountains,  learn  the  character  of 
the  rocks,  their  origin  and  fossil  contents,  and  seek  the 
evidences  of  those  stupendous  revolutions  which  they  have 
undergone,  not  forgetting  to  trace  the  Divine  Hand  in  them 
till.  If  you  join  botany  and  zoology  to  geology,  so  much  surer 
will  you  be  to  acquire  a  settled  relish  for  Nature's  works.  That 
once  attained  and  you  have  secured  a  source  of  health  and 
happiness,  and  of  mental  improvement  too,  of  which  no  earthly 
change  can  rob  you.  Strange  would  it  be,  if  as  years  roll  on, 
some  of  the  bright  eyes  that  scan  these  pages  should  not  be 
dimmed  by  sorrow,  and  the  wan  and  pallid  countenance  succeed 
to  the  rose  of  health  now  in  full  bloom.  Strange  if  the  icy 
blasts  of  disappointment  or  bereavement,  or  the  treachery  or 
neglect  of  the  world  should  not  chill  some  of  the  generous  hearts 


CHRISTIAN   LOVE   OF   NATURE.  407 

whom  I  address.  But  oh,  what  a  solace  will  you  find  in  a 
sanctified,  Christian  love  of  Nature  !  She  is  the  kind  parent  of 
us  all,  and  she  always  has  a  soothing  voice  and  a  healing  balm 
for  her  disheartened  and  afflicted  children.  Nor  can  even  the 
infirmities  of  age  chill  and  paralyze  this  holy  love  for  her.  I 
testify  at  the  age  of  threescore  and  ten,  that  though  I  find  the 
powers  of  life  giving  way,  and  a  growing  indifference  to  the 
works  of  Man,  my  attachment  to  the  works  of  Nature  has  all 
the  ardor  and  enthusiasm  of  youth.  Hannah  More  testified 
that  it  was  so  with  her  at  fourscore  and  two.  And  why  should 
it  not  be  so  with  the  Christian  forever !  for  though  the  first  and 
the  sweetest  song  of  heaven  is,  Worthy  is  the  Lamb  that  was 
slain,  yet  the  second  sounds  from  the  same  golden  harps,  with 
a  rapture  scarcely  less,  GREAT  AND  MARVELLOUS  ARE  THY 
WORKS,  LORD  GOD,  ALMIGHTY  ! 


INDEX. 


Abbott,  Jacob, 

Papc. 
33 

Cabinets,  History  of, 

Fape. 

74 

Adams,  C.  B., 
Adullam  or  Sunderland  Cave 
Agents  to  procure  funds, 
Agricultural  Schools, 
in  Europe, 

91 
270 
122 
350 
352 

pecuniary  value  of,  .        . 
scientific  estimate  of,       . 
use  of,       .... 
Cabinet  of  Society  of  Inquiry, 
Calhoun,  William  B.,     . 

108 
110 
111 
107 
12 

Agriculture,  Board  of  in  Mas 

Canons  on  the  Colorado, 

405 

sachusetts,  appointed  Secre 

Charity  Fund,        .         .        118 

,  147 

tary,    .... 

368 

amount  expended,  . 
Chain  Ponds,  .... 

205 
267 

Alden  Ebenezer,     . 

13 

Allen,  Dr.,  speech  on  Nonotuck, 
Almanac,  Nautical,  errors  in,. 
Amethyst  Brook,    . 
Anatomy,  Instruction  in, 

248 
311 
267 
898 

Child,  Linus,  .... 
Christians,  English,  fidelity  of, 
Cirencester,  Incidents  at, 
Clark,  Daniel  A.,    . 

13 
344 
352 
21 

Antivenenean  Society,   . 

162 

Joseph  S., 

23 

Members  of, 

155 

W.  S.,  Prof.,   . 

41 

Appleton  Cabinet,  . 
Archaeological  Cabinet,  . 
Astronomy,  Love  of  it,  . 

63 

104 
284 

Cobden,  ttichard,  his  opinion 
of  the  Scenery  on  the  Hud- 
son 

qsn 

Astronomical  Observations,     . 

311 

Cowles,  Kufus, 

oo  J 
6 

Association  of  American  Geol 
ogists  and  Naturalists, 

369 

College  Duties,  amount  of  as 
Professor, 

289 

Association,  American,  for  Ad- 
•  vancement  of  Science, 

369 

amount  of  as  President,  . 
College  Honors, 

315 

326 

College  Hill,            ... 

213 

Beaches,  Old  Sea,  and  Bot 

Condit,  J.  B.,  Prof., 

40 

toms,  Old  Sea,     . 
Beneficiaries,  Number  of, 

276 
205 

Conway,  Dismissal  from, 
Conversions  in  College,  . 

287 
1152 

Billings,  Elisha,      . 
Biographical  Notices,     . 

6 
1 

Correspondence,  Epistolary,   . 
Credit,  Building  on, 

317 

13J) 

Blunt,   Edmund    M.,   contro 

Crescent,         .... 

218 

versy  with,  .... 

311 

Crisis   in   the   History  of  the 

Boalt/J.  11.,  Speech  on  Kil- 

College  terminated,     .        . 

130 

Boltwood,  Lucius, 

9,  120 

Crosby,  Joshua,      .         .    '    . 
Crowell,  E.  P.,  Prof., 

3 
42 

Botanical  Collections, 

98 

Bowlders,        .... 
Bucklaml,  Professor,  in  an  In 

264 

Dangers  of  the  College, 
Debt  of  the  College, 

207 

11!) 

sane  Hospital,     . 

348 

Effects  of, 

123 

Bunsen,  Chevalier,  Anecdote 

Cancelled,        .        .        , 

133 

concerning,  .... 

302 

Debtor's  Prison,      .        .        . 

141 

British  Association,  Scientific, 

Dedication  of  the  Cabinets,    . 

13iJ 

meeting  of,  . 

356 

Delta  Terraces, 

277 

Members  of, 
Moral  tone  of,  . 

357 
358 

Departments  of  Study,  time 
for  each, 

52 

18 

410 


INDEX. 


Page. 

Dickinson,  Austin, ...  9 
Edward,           ...  8 
Enos,        ....  67 
Samuel  F.,  5 
Nineveh  Gallery,     .        .  67,  104 
Diploma  of  Antivenenean  So 
ciety,        .        .        .        .  156 
Discouragement  and  Feebleness,  336 
Dormitories,    ....  153 
Duns,  Dr.,  on  the  Footmark 

Controversy,        .        .        .  378 

Dunes, 278 

Education,  Public,  wanting,  .  398 

Society,  its  Beneficiaries,  205 

Edwards,  Henry,    ...  13 

BelaB.,           .  23 

Ely,  Alfred,    ....  21 

Ellis,  Mrs.,  her  female  school,  350 

Eolus,  Naming  of,  .        .        .  261 

Estabrook,  Professor,      .        .  38 

Esty,  W.  C-,  .  42 

Europe,  Tour  in,    .        .        .  338 

Tour  in,  objects  and  rules  of,  340 
Eyes,  Weak,           ...  398 
Excursions  for  Naming  Moun 
tains,  212 

Expenses,  Annual,  of  the  Col 
lege,     .        .        .  180 

Annual,  increasing,         .  208 

Field,  T.  P.,  Prof.,          .        .  40 

Financial  History  of  the  College,  117 

of  the  Crisis  in,        .        .  124 
Fiske,  N.  W.,  Professor,         .    30,  77 

his  Speech  on  Holvoke,  .  224 

Fiske,  John,    .         .      "  .        .  19 

Fortification  taught  in  College,  296 
Fossil  Footmarks,  Controversy 

about, 374 

Fowler,  William  W.,  Speech 

on  Rock  Rimmon,         .  245 

William  C.,  Prof.,   .        .  40 

Freshmen,  abuse  of,         .        .  333 

Funds  of  the  College,     .        .  148 

Expanding,      .        .        .  149 

Geology  around  Amherst,       270,  311 
Geology,  its  benefits,       .         .  401 
Geologist's  Dell,      .        .         .  227 
Geologist,  his   peculiar  plea 
sures,  403 

Geological  Surveys,        .        .  364 

Ghor,       .        .         .        .        .  243 

Glaciers,  marks  of,  in  Wales,  342 

Gneiss, 271 

Golden  Gate,  ....  217 

Gorge  Terraces,      .        .        .  277 

Greenstone,     ....  273 


Graduates,  Number  of,  . 
Graves,  Rufus, 
Gymnasium,  . 
Gymnastics,  three  kinds, 


Pape. 
44 

4 
68 

401 


Haidinger,  Prof.,  his  opinion 

on  the  Footmark  Controversy,  377 

Haldeman,  Prof.,  Letter  from,"  374 

Hardy,  Alpheus,     .        .        .  14 

Haven,  Joseph,  Prof.,    .        .  39 

Health,  Feeble,       .        .        .  399 

improved  by  Geology,     .  402 

Hiawatha,  Mt.,       .        .        .  258 
Herrick,  T.  P.,  Speech  on  Po- 

cumtuck,     ....  255 

History,  Ante-Columbian,      .  404 
Hitchcock,  Edward,  Speech  on 

Holyoke,       .         .         .  225 

Speech  on  Norwottuck,   .  229 

Speech  on  Nonotuck,       .  248 
Speech  on  presentation  of 

Plate,    ....  395 
Mrs.   O.  and  Daughters, 

their  drawings,     .        294,  392 
Edward,  Jr.,  Speech  on 

Mettawompe,        .        .  42,  234 
C.  H.,  Speech  on  Pocumtuck,  255 
Professorship,  its  endow 
ment 292 

Homerton  College,          .        .  348 
Hooker,  John,         ...  10 
Hovey,  Sylvester,  ...  34 
Hoyt,  Gen.  Ep.,  my  patron,  .  283 
Humphrey,  Dr.,  Sketch  of,     .  25 
Leonard,  speech  on  Nor 
wottuck,       ...  228 
Hunterian  Museum   of  Ana 
tomy,  London,    .        .        .  346 

Ichnological  Cabinet,              .  81 

Cost  of,    .                         .  88 

Indian  Relics,          .                 .  108 
Influence   of  Friends   during 

revivals,      .        .                .  170 
Instructors,  Names  of, 

Inquiry  Meetings,  .                 .  1*8 

lo,  .         .-       .        .        .        .  266 

Jewett,  G.  B  ,  Prof.,       .        .  40 
Johnson  Chapel,     ...  57 
Jones,  Edward,  (colored)  Pres 
ident  of  a  College,      .        .  331 

King,  Jonas,  .        .                 .  37 
|  Kindness  to  Strangers  in  Ger 
many  and  Scotland,    .        .  354 
Kilburn  Peak,        ...  257 


Laboratory, 


7-2 


INDEX. 


411 


Lateral  Terraces,    . 

Paste.  1 
277  1  Natural  Sciences,  time  devoted, 

Page. 
53 

Lectures  given  in  College, 

55 

Naming  Mountains,  reason  for 

251 

Legislature  grants  aid  to  Col 
lege  

131 

Nettleton,  Dr., 
Newspaper  Articles, 

179 

389 

Leland,  John, 

7,120 

Northerner,     . 

264 

Library,  

6,115 

Norwottuck,   . 

227 

London,  its  objects  of  interest, 

345 

Nonotuck, 

246 

Lyell,  Sir  Charles,  his  kindness, 

348 

Nutonk,  .... 

258 

Magnet,  The,  .... 

265 

Obstacles  encountered,  . 

397 

Mallet,  J.  W.,  Prof.,       . 

40 

Occident,  The, 

216 

Mantel],  Dr.  Gideon,  his  kind 

Orient  Crest  and  the  House, 

254 

attention,     .... 

347 

Origin  and  Object  of  the  Col 

Mather,  R.  EL,  Prof.,      . 
Mcsnv*rit'  ,IMcctinfr  of  the  S6n~ 

42 

lege  

Olds  Prof.      .... 

160 
38 

ior  Class      .        . 

238 

Owen,  Prof.  Richard,  his  great 

Mettawompe,  .... 

234 

discovery,     . 

347 

Mica  Schist  and  Granite, 

271 

on  the  Footmark  Contro 

Ministers  Graduated   at  Am 

versy,  .... 

378 

herst,  

188 

Ministers  of  different  Denom 

Packard,  Rev.  T.,  . 

20 

inations,       .... 

191 

Park,  E.  A.,  Prof., 

39 

Ministers,  relative  number  of 

Peabody,  W.  A.,  Prof.,  . 

40 

Graduated  at  different  Col 

Peculiarities  of  Constitution, 

309 

leges,  

191 

Personal  History,   . 

281 

Minerva's  Seat. 

250 

Philosophical  Cabinet,    . 

71 

Missionaries,  Literary  stand 

Phillips  Jonathan,  his  Liber 

ing  of.  . 

329 

ality,    .... 

363 

Graduated  at  Amherst,    . 

190 

Poem  on  Nutonk,  . 

259 

Sketches  of,      . 

193 

Pocumtuck,     . 

254 

Missionary  Collections,  . 

75 

Popular  Education,  Views  of, 

Missionaries,  List  of, 

202 

in  Scotland, 

353 

Monsell,    Hon.   William,   his 

President's  House,  . 

58 

kindness,     .... 

351 

Professors  in  Amherst  College 

Montague,  W.  L.,  Prof., 

42 

noticed, 

39 

Moore,  Z.  S.,  . 

1 

in  1845  carry  on  the  Col 

his  Wife,  .... 

2 

lege  without  full  sala- 

Moore  Fund,  its  amount, 

205 

125 

More,  Hannah,  her    love    of 

407 

Professorships,     Number    of, 
Changes  in, 

48 

Moraine  Terraces,  . 

276 

Poverty,  Early,       .        .        397 

,  281 

Mt.  Aquilo,      .... 

253 

Prayer-Meetings.   .       .       167 

;  ns 

Boreas,     .        .      .  .        . 

252 

Prayer,  Day  of,  for  Colleges,  . 

169 

Castor,     .        .        .        ,' 

218 

Presidency,  invitation  to  it,   . 

304 

Doma,               •        .        . 

214 

arguments  for  and  against 

Holyoke,.        . 

220 

accepting  it, 

305 

Hygeia,    .... 

253 

Plate  presented, 

393 

Pleasant  and  Pleasanter, 

215 

Powder  Plot,  .... 

381 

Pollux,     .        .        .        • 

219 

Providence,  Kindness  of, 

362 

Taurus,    .        •        •        * 

251 

Publications,  List  of,       .        . 

379 

Warner,            .        •        . 

216 

Tom,         .... 

249 

Rebellion,  Case  of,  .        .        , 

331 

Museum  of  Economical  Geol 

Religious  Views,    . 

283 

ogy  in  London,   . 

345 

Religion  confirmed  by  Geol 

ogy,     .        .        .     "  . 

405 

Natural  History  Fund,  . 

93 

Religious  History  of  the  Col- 

Natural   History,  when   first 

158 

studied, 

296 

Reminiscences,  Sad,       .        . 

294 

its  influence  on  health,    . 

287 

Revivals,        .... 

162 

412 


INDEX. 


Page. 

Page. 

Revivals,  Means  used  in, 

168 

Summary  of  the  Contents  of 

Different  Types  of,  . 

184 

the  Cabinets,       ...          99 

Revival  of  1850,     . 

182 

Sunderland  objects  to  naming 

of  1858  

186 

Mt.  Toby,    ....        236 

Rhine,     Fellow      Passengers 

through  its  Gorges, 

360 

Tappan,  John,        .        .  12,  151,  363 

Richmond,  Ya.,  Sojourn  at,   . 

337 

Taylor,  James,        ...            3 

Rigi  Culm,  View  from,  . 

361 

Temperance,  History  of,          .        151 

River  Beds,  Old,     . 

278 

Temperance,  the  grand  remedy,      400 

Rock  Etam,    .... 

265 

in  Eating  and  Drinking,        297 

Oreb,       .... 

264 

the  System  Taught,  with 

Rimmon,  .... 

245 

its  Modifications,  .        .        298 

Rocking  Stone, 

265 

Terrace  Lake,         ...        267 

Titan's  Piazza,        .         .         .        226 

Sandstone,      .... 

275 

Pier,         .        .        .        .        227 

211 

Torrance  J.  D.,  his  life  sacri- 

Scholarships,  .... 

149 

ficed  334 

School  of  Mines  in  Paris, 

346 

Trap  Tuff,       ....        274 

Sears  Fund,    .        .        .        115 

,  132 

Tracks  in  Stone,  Discovery  of,          86 

Sedgwick,  Prof.,  on  the  Foot 

Trask,  Israel  E.,     ...          10 

mark  Controversy,      •        « 

377 

Trustees  and  Friends,  Sketches 

Seclye,  J.  II.,  Prof., 

41 

of,         ....          14 

Sentinel,  The, 

265 

Votes  of,  in  1847,     .        .        133 

Silliman,  Prof.,  his  instruction, 

288 

Tuckerman,  E.,  Prof.,    .        .          42 

Shelburne  Falls,     . 

269 

Turner's  Falls,        ...        268 

Shepard,  Prof.  C.  U.,      . 

101 

Tyier,  W.  S.,.        ...        127 

Speech  on  Holyoke,  .        . 

221 

Cabinet,  .... 

101 

University  of  Edinburgh,  its 

Smith,  Dr.  J.  Pye,  his  rare  ex 

Cabinets  and  Library,         .        346 

cellence,       .        .                . 

348 

Smith,  Nathaniel,  . 

3 

Vaill,  Joseph,         .        .        .19,  122 

Smith,  Henry  B.,    .        .        . 

39 

Veins  of  Copper  and  Lead,    .        279 

Snell,  E.  S.,    

35 

Vibrating  Falls  at  South  Had- 

Societies,    Secret    and    Anti- 

ley,      269 

Secret,  .... 

320 

Victoria,  Queen,  at  Prayers,  .        303 

Opinion  of  Presidents  con 

Vose,  J.  G.,  Prof.,           .        .          41 

cern  ing, 
Statistical  History  of  Amherst 

322 

43 

Wales,  Travel  in,  ...        341 

A\rflrnor  Aftron                         •        1—7 

Stearns,  Dr.,  his  Character,    . 

41 

Wavland,  Francis,  ...          22 

his  Speech, 

393 

Wci.ster,  Noah,      ...          11 

Speech  on  Nonotuck,      . 
Speech  on  Pocumtuck,    . 

248 
257 

Webster,  Daniel,  on  Temper 
ance,    302 

Stimpson's  Fund,  its  amount, 

205 

Wilder,  S.  V.  S.,    .        .        .          10 

Students,  Indigent,  assisted,  . 

204 

AVilliston,  Sam'l,  Sketch  of,  16,69,135 

Number   of,  in   Amherst 

Wine  at  Breakfast,         .        .        304 

College, 

44 

Woods  Cabinet,      ...          60 

Non-graduates, 

46 

Worcester,  S.  M.,   ...          30 

Studies  in  College,  time  de 
voted  to, 

52 

Works  published,  Remarks  on,        391 
World,  its  immense  Age,        .        404 

Subjects  perplexing  in  College, 
Sugar-Loaf,     .... 

318 
251 

Zoological  Cabinet,        .        .    90,94 

Summary  of  Works  published, 

390 

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